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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cruelty
Cobb was arrested and has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children, both felony charges, police said.
—
Mark Price, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
She has been charged with murder in the 2nd degree and cruelty to children in the 2nd degree.
—Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Terri Sprague, Christopher Davis, Vicki Miller and Anthony Miller were sentenced for cruelty to a companion animal, a first-degree misdemeanor, according to court documents.
—Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Oct. 2025
Tyrese Gibson turned himself in to Atlanta police Friday, nearly two weeks after an arrest warrant was issued against the actor on animal cruelty charges.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cruelty
Mark Price, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
She has been charged with murder in the 2nd degree and cruelty to children in the 2nd degree.
—Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Terri Sprague, Christopher Davis, Vicki Miller and Anthony Miller were sentenced for cruelty to a companion animal, a first-degree misdemeanor, according to court documents.
—Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Oct. 2025
Tyrese Gibson turned himself in to Atlanta police Friday, nearly two weeks after an arrest warrant was issued against the actor on animal cruelty charges.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cruelty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cruelty
Noun
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Her name is Christa Gail Pike, who was convicted of killing 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer three decades ago in a case that made national headlines at the time for its brutality.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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Safdie’s presentation of these comments foregrounds Mark’s understanding of what’s profound, and profoundly disturbing, about mixed martial arts, and perhaps all martial arts—the channelling and professionalizing of brutality.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This led to the investigation of Gein’s farm that unearthed his atrocities, including Worden’s body being decapitated, flayed, and hung in his shed.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
4 Oct. 2025
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Did Ed Gein have a girlfriend, Adeline Watkins, who introduced him to World War II atrocities?—
JR Radcliffe,
jsonline.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cruelty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cruelty. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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