1
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
2
as in harsh
difficult to endure
the cruel climate of the Arctic
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3
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
the cruel situation of being orphaned at an early age
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4
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cruel
Ozzy and his wife Sharon were vocal supporters of the cause, appearing in videos and speaking out against cruel practices like beaver-killing tours.
—
Amanda Castro
gabe Whisnant
anna Commander
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 July 2025
None of these people have been sentenced to cruel and inhumane treatment and none have been sentenced to death.
—Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 22 July 2025
At the center of the bill is a cruel tradeoff: deep Medicaid cuts that rip healthcare away from millions in exchange for tax breaks and corporate handouts to the top 1%.
—J.d. Scholten, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 July 2025
The mean girl at the head of her popular clique can be just as cruel as a thousand year old demon.
—Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cruel
Amanda Castro
gabe Whisnant
anna Commander
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 July 2025
None of these people have been sentenced to cruel and inhumane treatment and none have been sentenced to death.
—Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 22 July 2025
At the center of the bill is a cruel tradeoff: deep Medicaid cuts that rip healthcare away from millions in exchange for tax breaks and corporate handouts to the top 1%.
—J.d. Scholten, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 July 2025
The mean girl at the head of her popular clique can be just as cruel as a thousand year old demon.
—Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cruel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cruel
Adjective
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Mortensen not only survived the brutal massacre, but is also the only eyewitness to have seen Kohberger at the scene of the crime.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
23 July 2025
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After the brutal ascent of Ventoux, sprinters get their spotlight.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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The harsh reality is this: not all cell phone forensic extractions are created equal, and the most important evidence for trucking cases on the smartphone will be gone in days or weeks.—
Lars Daniel,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
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Late-night talk shows across the board are facing the harsh reality that declines in ad revenue can’t make up for burgeoning production costs.—
Liam Reilly,
CNN Money,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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Higher temperatures can be too hot for a dog’s paw pads and, in some cases, can cause painful burns.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
22 July 2025
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The tents are overrun by mosquitoes and other large insects, subjecting people to frequent and painful insect bites.—
Steve Bousquet,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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Attacks are now surging across the U.S., targeting citizens with malicious texts, emails and popups.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
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Habba was sued by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka for false arrest, malicious prosecution and defamation after his arrest during a protest an immigration detention center in Newark on May 9.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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Over time, this can create a vicious cycle where poor sleep and chronic anxiety feed into each other, creating a loop that damages your well-being.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
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There was a scary moment later in the third quarter when Charlotte’s James Banks III hit Sacramento’s Dylan Cardwell with a vicious elbow to the face.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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The tougher policy changes are adding to the minors’ trauma, advocates say.—
Nicol León,
AZCentral.com,
22 July 2025
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Stellantis' loss, versus a 5.6 billion euro net profit a year earlier, underscores the tough challenges for new CEO Antonio Filosa, who was appointed in May after a disastrous performance in the company's crucial U.S. market in 2024 forced the ouster of former boss Carlos Tavares.—
Giulio Piovaccari,
Freep.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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Despite his large body of work as a MAGA sycophant, YouTuber Benny Johnson couldn’t swallow Trump’s logically torturous explanations of why his backers should just forget about Epstein.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
19 July 2025
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But the games must go on, and in the third installment, he’s forced to play even more torturous rounds that divide the players further, including a terrifying game of hide-and-seek and a deadly round of double Dutch.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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His otherwise incomparable legacy will forever be stained by his hateful remarks about Black people.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
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Late in the episode, Cartman calls off his suicide attempt after Butters helps convince him that there’s always hope for a return to the world where Cartman’s hateful trollery will again be a minority voice pushing back against the mainstream.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cruel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cruel. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
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