as in brutality
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others
centuries after he ravaged Europe, Attila the Hun remains notorious for his cruelty
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Recent Examples of cruelty
Our communities have suffered because of their cruelty and disregard for humanity and justice.
—
Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Just like at the end of Season 1 of The Chestnut Man, the show wisely reminds us that even in the face of unthinkable cruelty and shocking realities, people are still capable of good.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 7 May 2026
Middle school is, famously, a time of petty cruelty and small-scale social Darwinism.
—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
There’s arguably no one better placed to collaborate with VFX artists on a motion-capture performance than Serkis, who’s delivered innocence, cunning, cruelty, longing, and kindness in roles that run from Golum to Caesar to King Kong himself.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cruelty
Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Just like at the end of Season 1 of The Chestnut Man, the show wisely reminds us that even in the face of unthinkable cruelty and shocking realities, people are still capable of good.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 7 May 2026
Middle school is, famously, a time of petty cruelty and small-scale social Darwinism.
—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
There’s arguably no one better placed to collaborate with VFX artists on a motion-capture performance than Serkis, who’s delivered innocence, cunning, cruelty, longing, and kindness in roles that run from Golum to Caesar to King Kong himself.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cruelty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cruelty
Noun
-
But no matter the brutality, Allin was able to withstand it all.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
-
The brutality of Butcher (Karl Urban) comes under the spotlight again, the episode questioning if the ends really justify the means—killing Homelander might complete Butcher’s transformation into a monster.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
This plan is an atrocity deserving to be overturned — quickly.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
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Sartre wrote the essay in 1944, as people around the world were learning the extent of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cruelty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cruelty. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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