CRUEL Synonyms: 231 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'cruel' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of cruel are barbarous , ferocious , fierce , and savage . While all these words mean "showing fury or malignity in looks or actions," cruel implies indifference to suffering and even positive pleasure in inflicting it. // the cruel jokes of schoolboys

Q: When is 'barbarous' a more appropriate choice than 'cruel'?

The synonyms barbarous and cruel are sometimes interchangeable, but barbarous implies a ferocity or mercilessness regarded as unworthy of civilized people. // barbarous treatment of prisoners

Q: When is it sensible to use 'ferocious' instead of 'cruel'?

While the synonyms ferocious and cruel are close in meaning, ferocious implies extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality. // a ferocious dog

Q: When could 'fierce' be used to replace 'cruel'?

The meanings of fierce and cruel largely overlap; however, fierce applies to humans and animals that inspire terror because of their wild and menacing aspect or fury in attack. // fierce warriors

Q: In what contexts can 'savage' take the place of 'cruel'?

Although the words savage and cruel have much in common, savage implies the absence of inhibitions restraining civilized people filled with rage, lust, or other violent passion. // a savage criminal

cruel

adjective

ˈkrü(-ə)l

Definition of cruel

as in brutal

having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others a cruel dictator who tortured anyone who dared to speak out against him cruel and unusual punishments are forbidden by the U.S. Constitution

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in harsh

difficult to endure the cruel climate of the Arctic

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in painful

hard to accept or bear especially emotionally the cruel situation of being orphaned at an early age

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in malicious

having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it the bully was fond of making cruel little jabs at his victim's sore points

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cruel different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of cruel are barbarous, ferocious, fierce, and savage. While all these words mean "showing fury or malignity in looks or actions," cruel implies indifference to suffering and even positive pleasure in inflicting it.

the cruel jokes of schoolboys

When is barbarous a more appropriate choice than cruel?

The synonyms barbarous and cruel are sometimes interchangeable, but barbarous implies a ferocity or mercilessness regarded as unworthy of civilized people.

barbarous treatment of prisoners

When is it sensible to use ferocious instead of cruel?

While the synonyms ferocious and cruel are close in meaning, ferocious implies extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality.

a ferocious dog

When could fierce be used to replace cruel?

The meanings of fierce and cruel largely overlap; however, fierce applies to humans and animals that inspire terror because of their wild and menacing aspect or fury in attack.

fierce warriors

In what contexts can savage take the place of cruel?

Although the words savage and cruel have much in common, savage implies the absence of inhibitions restraining civilized people filled with rage, lust, or other violent passion.

a savage criminal

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of cruel The insult, though cruel, didn't stop her from pursuing her decades-long career in television. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026 As New York City braces for a week of cruel summer temperatures that could push temperatures to 100 degrees, Mayor Zohran Mamdani isn't sweating reports that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce plan to marry at Madison Square Garden. — Bryan West, USA Today, 30 June 2026 The cruelest dimension of this is that a Christianity hijacked by the evangelical right now seeks to sanctify that mythology in the name of God. — Otis Moss Iii, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026 Their desperate hope, their cruel denial still weigh on this nation’s soul 87 years later, though most Americans only caught glimpses of the doomed passengers through news reels. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cruel

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cruel

Adjective

And Addy, perhaps the most brutal American Girl story, is enslaved.

— Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 3 July 2026
In January, the government suppressed huge nationwide protests in a brutal crackdown that left thousands dead.

— Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 3 July 2026

Definition of brutal

Adjective

White settlers and frontier pioneers built vast, fenceless cattle stations, battling harsh environments and disease, embracing a hard-living culture that exists to this day.

— Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Dish Soap Using harsh chemicals on the outside of your toilet bowl and fixtures is not recommended, according to Meagher.

— Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 4 July 2026

Definition of harsh

Adjective

And that says something painful about what my country has become, and my place in it.

— Dawn M. Turner, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
For thousands of Venezuelans, however, the absence of definitive answers has become one of the tragedy’s most painful consequences.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026

Definition of painful

Adjective

According to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, 37-year-old Adam Mazur-Baker was arraigned Tuesday on one count of using a computer to commit a crime and one count of malicious use of telecommunications services.

— DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 2 July 2026
This command executes malicious code inside the AppleScript directly.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026

Definition of malicious

Adjective

The early Cold War liberals had read their history books and seen how the French Revolution had begun with high progressive hopes but descended into a vicious bloodbath.

— David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
After a similarly vicious storm struck the New York area late Friday, hundreds of thousands of utility customers were left without power, trains to New Jersey were canceled and thousands of trees were damaged or uprooted.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of vicious

Adjective

The talks are meant to focus on the toughest matters, including fully reopening the strait and rolling back Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.

— Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Patrick Cantlay made a little noise in an otherwise quiet year for the American with five birdies in 10 holes and then a collection of tough par saves at the end that felt just as valuable.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

In theaters July 17, The Odyssey tells the story of Greek hero Odysseus’ long, torturous and fantastical trip home from the Trojan War, back to the Kingdom of Ithaca to save his wife and son.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026
As part of her job, Angèle needs to daub makeup on the models’ feet, blistered from the torturous heels they’re forced to wear.

— Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 26 June 2026

Definition of torturous

Adjective

After about a month, when the social media and news backlash started to settle down, Johnson said the hateful comments stopped coming in.

— Elijah Polance, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
White attributed most of the hateful comments to online agitators rather than true WNBA or Indiana Fever fans.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of hateful

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“Cruel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cruel. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of cruel

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