anti-cruelty
adjective
an·ti-cru·el·ty
ˌan-tē-ˈkrü(-ə)l-tē 
ˌan-tī-
ˌan-tī-
: opposing, prohibiting, or punishing cruelty and especially the cruel treatment of animals
anti-cruelty legislation against dog fighting
Examples of anti-cruelty in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nile monitors are not native to Florida and are not protected in the state except by anti-cruelty law, per the FWC.
—
Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Mar. 2026
The Nile monitor is not native to Florida and is not protected in the state except by anti-cruelty law, per the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2026
The key legal requirement is that any removal must be done humanely, in compliance with anti-cruelty law.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
These and other developments make this a moment of reckoning for lawmakers and wildlife officials who have repeatedly resisted outlawing vehicular killing of wildlife, or who have shied away from strengthening anti-cruelty laws.
—Wendy Keefover, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
He was ultimately convicted under the state's anti-cruelty law.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 24 July 2025
Peter Li, an associate professor of East Asian politics at the University of Houston-Downtown and a China policy specialist for Humane Society International, says China is the only major industrialized country that does not have comprehensive anti-cruelty laws.
—Rebecca Wright, CNN Money, 30 May 2025
Animal Legal Defense Fund, an organization that aims to enforce stronger anti-cruelty laws and the humane treatment of animals, has also led calls to end the use of horses in tourism work.
—Moná Thomas, People.com, 27 May 2025
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Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Mar. 2026
The Nile monitor is not native to Florida and is not protected in the state except by anti-cruelty law, per the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2026
The key legal requirement is that any removal must be done humanely, in compliance with anti-cruelty law.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
These and other developments make this a moment of reckoning for lawmakers and wildlife officials who have repeatedly resisted outlawing vehicular killing of wildlife, or who have shied away from strengthening anti-cruelty laws.
—Wendy Keefover, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
He was ultimately convicted under the state's anti-cruelty law.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 24 July 2025
Peter Li, an associate professor of East Asian politics at the University of Houston-Downtown and a China policy specialist for Humane Society International, says China is the only major industrialized country that does not have comprehensive anti-cruelty laws.
—Rebecca Wright, CNN Money, 30 May 2025
Animal Legal Defense Fund, an organization that aims to enforce stronger anti-cruelty laws and the humane treatment of animals, has also led calls to end the use of horses in tourism work.
—Moná Thomas, People.com, 27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anti-cruelty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anti-cruelty. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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