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
cruelness
noun
Examples of cruel in a Sentence
a cruel twist of fate
Hunger is a cruel fact of nature.
Recent Examples on the Web
On the page, these serve to paint him in a monstrous light following his abandonment by his egotistical and cruel creator, Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac).
—
Megan McCluskey, Time, 17 Oct. 2025
Johnston said the inspiration behind the plot point came from wanting to address the feeling that, since the original book was published, the world has gotten meaner and crueler.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
Recounting the cruel irony of his father’s killing still brings tears to Avni’s eyes.
—Matt Bradley, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
Vigil also had to endure cruel jokes after the attack, including a meme shared within the department showing a photo of his face superimposed onto a bag of dog food, Vega said.
—Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cruel
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Megan McCluskey, Time, 17 Oct. 2025
Johnston said the inspiration behind the plot point came from wanting to address the feeling that, since the original book was published, the world has gotten meaner and crueler.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
Recounting the cruel irony of his father’s killing still brings tears to Avni’s eyes.
—Matt Bradley, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
Vigil also had to endure cruel jokes after the attack, including a meme shared within the department showing a photo of his face superimposed onto a bag of dog food, Vega said.
—Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cruel
Cite this Entry
“Cruel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cruel. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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