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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 Then, in 2018 and 2019, when caravans of asylum seekers, who were primarily from Central America, were met with cruel deterrence tactics like the Remain in Mexico policy. Liliana Reza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2025 Ensenada isn’t the only Miami restaurant taking a break in what is turning out to be a cruel summer. Connie Ogle july 8, Miami Herald, 8 July 2025 The hosts of the 2025 All-Star Game aren’t the only ones who’ve been confronted with the cruel reality that is baseball. The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 8 July 2025 Politics remains a cruel business and the governor has been on the frontline of it for nearly 20 years, winning and losing. Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for cruel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cruel
Adjective
  • The mini tubs are portable, mess-free, and endlessly useful, especially on long flights where dry cabin air can be brutal.
    Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2025
  • The Eastern Conference is wide open after the brutal injuries to both Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton during the playoffs, and now the Knicks are saddled with the expectations of excellence.
    Tom Rende, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • The mask fully blocks out the harsh cabin lighting and that inevitable sunrise glow before landing.
    Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2025
  • Before Getting Started When cleaning your oven, try to avoid using harsh oven cleaners or using the self-cleaning feature.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Deciding where to manufacture your product is one of the most painful questions today.
    Alex Gudilko, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
  • Bernie had facial fractures, cuts and bruises around his face, and very painful muscle injuries.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 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, 10 July 2025
  • Deepfakes have been growing more sophisticated in recent years, in addition to being increasingly deployed for malicious purposes.
    Shannon Bond, NPR, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Stanton, demonstrating that there’s still plenty of power in his vicious swing, sent the pitch 401 feet the other way at 106.1 mph.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 9 July 2025
  • The author presents a vicious takedown of George Washington.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • The tougher policy changes are adding to the minors’ trauma, advocates say.
    Nicol León, AZCentral.com, 22 July 2025
  • 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
  • Teddi Mellencamp has finally emerged on the healthy side of a torturous, years-long battle with cancer.
    Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 9 July 2025
  • Working out was a chore or—even worse—torturous penance for failing to become the impossible ever-shrinking woman.
    Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 3 July 2025
Adjective
  • Hoxton Grove Estate is shrouded in bad vibes, from Jess’s fighting neighbors — a group of women who have been, by turns, loving and hateful toward each other all season, their intensity coming to a head when one of them is seduced by the other’s boyfriend — to Felix’s lethargy.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 11 July 2025
  • Being a private equity venture, Substack directly profits from its creators, hateful and hopeful alike.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 10 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cruel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cruel. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

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