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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 Seventeen minutes into Saturday’s match against last-place CF Montréal, both streaks died together in the cruelest fashion possible. Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2025 Two heartless killers using every inch of the law to escape justice is a cruel irony. Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 28 Sep. 2025 Even Bill Murray’s character thinks that’s cruel. Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025 The only thing crueler than life sometimes is its ironies. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cruel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cruel
Adjective
  • The scene, which was not in Stephenie Meyer's 2008 book that the movie was adapted from, raised eyebrows for its brutal killings of vampires Carlisle Cullen (Peter Facinelli) and Jasper Hale (Jackson Rathbone), as well as werewolves Seth (Booboo Stewart) and Leah Clearwater (Julia Jones).
    Jen Juneau, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
  • In a new era of Steven Knight’s Peaky Blinders, the race to own Birmingham’s massive reconstruction project becomes a brutal contest of mythical dimensions.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The triumphant narrative began to fray when exceedingly harsh lockdown measures could no longer contain the spread of the virus, and the staggering human cost in the name of protecting lives defied all logic.
    Yangyang Cheng, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
  • There are no easy fixes, so figuring out how to cushion the harsh impact will be the basis of negotiations with other parties in the Japanese legislature, the Diet.
    Jeff Kingston, Time, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The result is the year’s most daring TV performance, rooted in a painful, just barely recognizable humanity.
    Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The company said its offering, akin to online tax preparation software, could help students maximize financial aid while making the application process less painful.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Lorena, now 55, was charged with malicious wounding, a felony offense, but was found not guilty by reason of temporary insanity following a two-week trial in early 1994.
    Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The worry with a dog like Chey is the fact they could be locked in a vicious cycle.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The show follows Ed Gein (Charlie Hunnam), an unassuming and odd man, working his family’s farm under the watchful eye of his hateful and vicious mother, Augusta (Laurie Metcalf).
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Lammens was perhaps fortunate to escape sanction then (Stuart Atwell booked the forward for diving), but this was a valuable occasion ahead of tougher tests, beginning at Anfield.
    Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • There will be some tough picking in there, but typically the predicting business gets a little easier in region play.
    Tyler Palmateer, Nashville Tennessean, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Bertino’s chamber piece unfolds over one torturous night and will be exclusive to Paramount’s streaming platform following its world premiere at Fantastic Fest in September.
    Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The longtime actor and multi-faceted filmmaker crafts an unhinged, go-for-broke performance as a legendary quarterback putting his potential heir apparent (Tyriq Withers) through a psychologically torturous training camp.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The show follows Ed Gein (Charlie Hunnam), an unassuming and odd man, working his family’s farm under the watchful eye of his hateful and vicious mother, Augusta (Laurie Metcalf).
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The student saw the hateful image and captured a photo from above.
    Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cruel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cruel. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on cruel

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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