cruel

adjective

cru·​el ˈkrü(-ə)l How to pronounce cruel (audio)
crueler or crueller; cruelest or cruellest
1
: disposed to inflict pain or suffering : devoid of humane feelings
a cruel tyrant
has a cruel heart
2
a
: causing or conducive to injury, grief, or pain
a cruel joke
a cruel twist of fate
b
: unrelieved by leniency
cruel punishment
cruelly adverb
cruelness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for cruel

fierce, ferocious, barbarous, savage, cruel mean showing fury or malignity in looks or actions.

fierce applies to humans and animals that inspire terror because of their wild and menacing aspect or fury in attack.

fierce warriors

ferocious implies extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality.

a ferocious dog

barbarous implies a ferocity or mercilessness regarded as unworthy of civilized people.

barbarous treatment of prisoners

savage implies the absence of inhibitions restraining civilized people filled with rage, lust, or other violent passion.

a savage criminal

cruel implies indifference to suffering and even positive pleasure in inflicting it.

the cruel jokes of schoolboys

Examples of cruel in a Sentence

a cruel twist of fate Hunger is a cruel fact of nature.
Recent Examples on the Web West calls it cruel to treat fellow human beings that badly. Andrea Kane, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024 Rio Grande River, Argentina Fishing along the banks of the Rio Grande River in southern Argentina can seem like a cruel joke at times. Tim Romano, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2024 In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson, a liberal Democrat who took office last year, announced his shelter eviction policy in November but delayed it multiple times as subzero temperatures gripped the city and advocates denounced the plans as cruel. Karin Brulliard, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 Of course, what with fate being a cruel and mocking force, a second duly followed: On Wednesday, Atlético Madrid took Inter Milan to penalties, too, with Diego Simeone’s side eventually winning to take a place in the quarterfinals of Europe’s somewhat jaded elite club competition. Rory Smith, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 The cruel and authoritarian impulses were established, in other words, as necessary components of his creativity. Peter Rubin, Longreads, 14 Mar. 2024 Neill balances the fine line between gruff and cruel, a symbol of a thousand baby boomer stereotypes without seeming derivative. Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024 Such an arrangement would potentially put U.S. troops at risk to defend one of the world’s cruelest autocracies. Jonah Blank, Foreign Affairs, 14 Mar. 2024 Many audience members will judge his treatment of his son as cruel. Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cruel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin crudelis, from crudus — see crude entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cruel was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near cruel

Cite this Entry

“Cruel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cruel. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cruel

adjective
cru·​el ˈkrü-əl How to pronounce cruel (audio)
crueler or crueller; cruelest or cruellest
1
: ready to hurt others : without humane feelings
a cruel ruler
2
a
: causing or helping to cause suffering
a cruel joke
b
: showing no mercy
cruel punishment
cruelly adverb
cruelness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on cruel

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