cruel

adjective

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cru·el | \ ˈkrü(-ə)l

crueler or crueller; cruelest or cruellest

Definition of cruel

1 : disposed to inflict pain or suffering : devoid of humane feelings a cruel tyrant has a cruel heart

2a : causing or conducive to injury, grief, or pain a cruel joke a cruel twist of fate

b : unrelieved by leniency cruel punishment

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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 Serena was in many ways more cruel to June, and her cruelty was more inexplicable. — Erik Kain, Forbes, 26 May 2021 Golf can be cruel to veteran, sentimental favorites. — Ben Nuckols, courant.com, 24 May 2021 Golf can be cruel to veteran, sentimental favorites. — Ben Nuckols, Star Tribune, 24 May 2021 The world is cruel to people with physical disabilities in ways that are different for me. — Ellen Mcgirt, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2021 In more recent years, high unemployment and the opioid crisis have been particularly cruel to the county's remaining residents. — NBC News, 5 Apr. 2021 General manager Koby Altman felt that would’ve been cruel to a player who did everything the Cavs asked and handled a difficult situation with class and professionalism. — Chris Fedor, cleveland, 27 Mar. 2021 The lawsuit, first filed in December, claims the prisoner-on-prisoner violence, excessive force by security staff, and failure to provide sanitary, secure, and safe conditions violate the Constitutional prohibition on cruel and unusual punishments. — Mike Cason | Mcason@al.com, al, 20 May 2021 The Supreme Court rules that the execution of mentally disabled defendants violates the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. — Cnn Editorial Research, CNN, 20 May 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cruel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.