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Cruel Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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cruel

cru-el

🇺🇸 /ˈkɹuəɫ/ · 🇬🇧 /kɹˈuːəl/

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

behavior

Willfully causing pain or suffering to others, or feeling no concern about it.

Synonyms

brutal, harsh, inhumane, merciless.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
cruel

Describes someone or something that causes suffering or pain intentionally. Often used to talk about people who are mean or act unkindly without reason.

  • It's cruel to tease someone about their appearance.
  • The dictator was cruel and unforgiving.
inhumane

Describes actions or conditions that lack compassion and are cruelly indifferent to suffering. Often used in contexts related to human rights or animal welfare.

  • The conditions in the prison were inhumane.
  • Keeping animals in such small cages is inhumane.
harsh

Refers to something severe or strict in a way that is unpleasant or difficult to endure. Can describe both physical conditions and personal attitudes or actions.

  • Living in such a harsh climate is challenging.
  • The teacher's criticism was harsh and demotivating.
merciless

Indicates a complete lack of mercy or pity. It often describes people or actions that are unrelenting in their cruelty.

  • The merciless ruler showed no pity for the rebels.
  • Her response was merciless, destroying his confidence completely.
brutal

Indicates extreme violence or ruthlessness. Typically used to describe physical actions, events, or behaviors that are especially violent or merciless.

  • The attack was brutal, leaving many injured.
  • His words were brutal and left her in tears.

Examples of usage

  • He was known for his cruel treatment of animals.
  • The dictator's cruel regime oppressed its citizens with violence and fear.
  • The cruel comments made by the bully left a lasting impact on the victim.
Context #2 | Adjective

weather

Causing pain or suffering due to harsh or severe conditions.

Synonyms

brutal, harsh, severe, unforgiving.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
cruel

Use 'cruel' when describing someone or something that causes pain or suffering intentionally.

  • He was a cruel ruler who oppressed his people
  • The children were being cruel to the stray dog
severe

Use 'severe' when something serious and intense, often related to conditions or punishment.

  • The country faced severe economic challenges
  • The judge gave a severe sentence to the criminal
harsh

Use 'harsh' to describe something severe or stern, often in regard to criticism, climate, or conditions.

  • The teacher's criticism was harsh but fair
  • The desert climate is known to be extremely harsh
brutal

Use 'brutal' to describe something extremely violent or harsh, usually in a physical sense.

  • The attack was so brutal that it shocked the whole community
  • The interrogation tactics were brutal and inhumane
unforgiving

Use 'unforgiving' when someone or something does not show mercy or flexibility. This can refer to people, weather, or situations.

  • She had an unforgiving nature and held grudges for a long time
  • The mountain terrain was unforgiving to inexperienced climbers

Examples of usage

  • The cruel winter storm brought freezing temperatures and heavy snow.
  • The desert's cruel heat made survival difficult for the lost hiker.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Quick facts about “cruel”

Cruel is a 2-syllable adjective (cru-el). It is pronounced /ˈkɹuəɫ/ in American English and /kɹˈuːəl/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 2 meanings, 8 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #5,124 among the most common English words.

Origin of 'cruel'

The word 'cruel' originated from the Old French word 'cruel', which is derived from the Latin word 'crudelis' meaning 'ruthless' or 'hard-hearted'. The concept of cruelty has been present throughout history, often associated with acts of violence, oppression, and inhumanity.

Rhymes

Cruel rhymes with fuel, renewal, dual, jewel, duel, accrual, refuel and crewel.

See all rhymes →

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,124 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.