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
Fighting for a perfectly egalitarian France could lead one to commit acts of undeniable cruelty.
—
Carol Quillen, Time, 21 Feb. 2026
Sullivan, who is free on a $300,000 bond, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons and first-degree reckless endangerment.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2026
The law’s enactment followed a Supreme Court ruling in 2010 that struck down a 1999 animal cruelty law that was determined to be too broad and a violation of free speech rights.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
To really understand the importance of the tunnels beneath the church, visitors have to face the cruelty the people experienced.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cruelty
Carol Quillen, Time, 21 Feb. 2026
Sullivan, who is free on a $300,000 bond, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons and first-degree reckless endangerment.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2026
The law’s enactment followed a Supreme Court ruling in 2010 that struck down a 1999 animal cruelty law that was determined to be too broad and a violation of free speech rights.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
To really understand the importance of the tunnels beneath the church, visitors have to face the cruelty the people experienced.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cruelty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cruelty
Noun
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The doctors in Iran and abroad said the level of brutality and militarization of health facilities was unprecedented in a country that for decades has experienced crackdowns on dissent and surveillance of public institutions.—
Sarah El Deeb,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
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The brutality of the murder, the sophistication of the planning and the fact that it was carried out by a group of teens from loving, mostly well-off families drew widespread attention to the case.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The family is known for murdering its own members, planning atrocities with wildfire, and generally unleashing a draconian rage on the commoners of Westeros.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2026
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It was created in 1995 in the aftermath of mass atrocities in Rwanda, Somalia and Bosnia.—
John T. Shaw,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cruelty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cruelty. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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