cruelty-free

adjective

cru·​el·​ty-free ˈkrü(-ə)l-tē-ˈfrē How to pronounce cruelty-free (audio)
: developed or produced without inhumane testing on animals
cruelty-free cosmetics

Examples of cruelty-free in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The fragrance brand was originally founded by Cat Chen as a cruelty-free, hypoallergenic scent solution. Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 8 July 2025 Each Honest product is cruelty-free and avoids 3,500 harmful ingredients like parabens, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances. Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 7 July 2025 The brand was also early to the conscious beauty conversation, long before buzzwords like clean, cruelty-free, and vegan became industry default. Marie Lodi, Allure, 5 July 2025 Founded in 1976 by activist and entrepreneur Anita Roddick, the brand championed ethical sourcing, cruelty-free formulations, and sustainability—long before these were industry buzzwords. Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for cruelty-free

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cruelty-free was in 1983

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Cite this Entry

“Cruelty-free.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cruelty-free. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

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