cruelty

noun

cru·​el·​ty ˈkrü(-ə)l-tē 

plural cruelties

1

: the quality or state of being cruel

2

a

: a cruel action

b

: inhuman treatment

3

: marital conduct held (as in a divorce action) to endanger life or health or to cause mental suffering or fear

Synonyms

• atrociousness
• atrocity
• barbarity
• barbarousness
• brutality
• cruelness
• fiendishness
• heartlessness
• inhumanity
• inhumanness
• sadism
• savageness
• savagery
• truculence
• viciousness
• wantonness

Examples of cruelty in a Sentence

a dictator known for his cruelty

The cruelty of children can be surprising.

They protested against cruelty to animals.

Recent Examples on the Web

Since then, numerous Holocaust films have drawn acclaim by telling stories of courage, and the unbelievable cruelty shown by Hitler’s Nazi Germany. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2024

Pulaski County Humane Society board of directors President Andrea Underwood said the organization has been holding 169 dogs but will return only 164 of them because of 59-year-old Sandra Nance's conviction of misdemeanor animal cruelty on five counts concerning individual dogs. —Eula Calahan , Micah Farmer, arkansasonline.com, 12 Aug. 2024

When news of this gratuitous cruelty reaches the nearest village, its citizens are torn between fleeing, hiding and fighting back. —Dennis Harvey, Variety, 8 Aug. 2024

The carcass was sent to Albany for a necropsy, which said that the animal was likely hit by a motor vehicle and was not a case of animal cruelty. —Anna Gordon, TIME, 5 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cruelte, from Anglo-French cruelté, from Latin crudelitat-, crudelitas, from crudelis

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cruelty

• anti-cruelty
• cruelty-free

Kids Definition

cruelty

noun

cru·​el·​ty ˈkrü-əl-tē 

plural cruelties

1

: the quality or state of being cruel

2

: cruel treatment

Legal Definition

cruelty

noun

cru·​el·​ty

plural cruelties

1

a

: an intentional or criminally negligent act that causes pain and suffering

cruelty to animals

cruelty to children

b

: mistreatment or neglect that causes pain and suffering compare abuse

Note: Cruelty is an aggravating circumstance to a crime (as murder).

2

: a spouse's conduct that endangers life or health or causes mental suffering or fear

called also cruel and inhuman treatment

Note: Cruelty is a ground for divorce.