cruel

adjective

cru·​el ˈkrü(-ə)l 

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

ˈkrü-(ə-)lē 

adverb

cruelness noun

Synonyms of cruel

• brutal
• vicious
• savage
• ruthless

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

But in one of the cruelest ironies in rock history, Berry suffered a devastating car crash not far from the actual Dead Man’s Curve in Los Angeles on April 12, 1966. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2026

In the face of climate change, such woo woo aphorisms seem ridiculous, naive, and cruel. — Josh Fox, IndieWire, 17 July 2026

The airline’s flights have grown longer and crueler in recent years, with deportees sometimes shackled for days, according to an investigation by Mother Jones. — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026

In a little corner of my mind, however, history will always mean the tragic smashing of individual lives by its cruel hands and the scattering of bewildered people reeling from its blows. — Literary Hub, 14 July 2026

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

Phrases Containing cruel

• cruel and unusual punishment
• cruel blow

Rhymes for cruel

• accrual
• nonfuel
• refuel
• renewal
• biofuel
• contextual
• nonrenewal
• nonsexual
• unusual
• dual
• duel
• fuel

Kids Definition

cruel

adjective

cru·​el ˈkrü-əl 

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

ˈkrü-ə-lē 

adverb

cruelness noun