as in cruelty
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others
far from being healers, the doctors in the Nazi death camps were notable for their senseless cruelness
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Recent Examples of cruelness
But again, Kristen, this is – this is cruelness.
—
NBC news, 30 Nov. 2025
NBC news, 30 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cruelness
Noun
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The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office charged Nikolas Hart, 25, with six counts, including felony animal cruelty and misdemeanors related to allegations of domestic violence, witness tampering and disobeying a court order.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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It will be used to invalidate our state laws and perpetuate a system of animal cruelty that predominantly serves the interests of factory farms.—
John Cleveland,
Boston Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Good Friday is a day to recognize the brutality of the Roman practice of crucifying criminals and to reflect with sincerity on the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for the world.—
Nicole Russell,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
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All are committed to the principles of the 1979 revolution and will rule with greater brutality given their lack of legitimacy.—
Abigail Williams,
NBC news,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cruelness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cruelness. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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