Synonyms of cruelty

cruelty

noun

ˈkrü(-ə)l-tē 

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

• brutality
• atrocity
• barbarity
• inhumanity
• savagery
• sadism
• savageness
• heartlessness
• cruelness
• murderousness
• viciousness
• fiendishness
• barbarousness
• wantonness
• inhumanness
• truculence
• ruthlessness
• mercilessness
• meanness
• atrociousness
• ferocity
• oppressiveness
• pitilessness
• fierceness
• grimness
• ferociousness
• bloodthirstiness
• spitefulness
• malevolence
• maliciousness
• hatefulness
• hard-heartedness
• bloodlust
• malignity
• unfeelingness
• harshness
• sanguinity
• fellness
• nastiness
• sanguineness
• despitefulness
• cattiness
• heavy-handedness
• hardhandedness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• compassion
• sympathy
• humanity
• kindness
• humaneness
• tenderness
• benignity
• warmth
• tenderheartedness
• kindheartedness
• pity
• warmness
• good-heartedness
• mercy
• leniency
• clemency
• warmheartedness
• charitableness
• mercifulness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of cruelty

Through Midge’s eyes, Gregory laid waste to the casual cruelty, cattiness, sexism and narcissism of 90s workplace culture, dating, family relationships, female friendships, consumerism and more. — Rob Salkowitz, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

The Constant reproach to the Königsberg case is that candor and confession can become cruelty by another name. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Three beloved family dogs were also killed, resulting in three felony animal cruelty counts against Sandoval. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Democrats still are not pleased However, Democrats said the gloves are only a step further in the direction of cruelty. — Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 16 Aug. 2026