Definitions

cruelty

[kroo-uhl-tee] / ˈkru əl ti /

NOUN

brutality, harshness

Synonyms

STRONGEST

barbarism barbarity inhumanity malice persecution savagery torture

STRONG

animality bestiality bloodthirstiness callousness coarseness coldness depravity despotism ferocity fierceness heartlessness insensibility insensitiveness malignity masochism mercilessness murderousness rancor ruthlessness sadism savageness severity spite spitefulness truculence unfeelingness unkindness venom viciousness wickedness

WEAK

brutishness fiendishness hard-heartedness

Antonyms

STRONGEST

kindness

STRONG

love

WEAK

charity compassion consideration feeling gentility mercy niceness thoughtfulness

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Cruelty is the governing ethos of Henry II. And the king owns all the venison.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles has been urging the city council to extend its existing ban to include more species.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 18, 2025

Heather Weir, chief executive of the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said there were a number of reasons why dog attack prosecutions were not successful.

From BBC • Aug. 24, 2025

Then, in August, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals announced they were investigating the suspicious deaths of 10 seagulls found in Norfolk, England.

From Salon • Oct. 20, 2024

The meeting of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children must have taken place earlier in the day, and now they had all gone home.

From "The Witches" by Roald Dahl

Vocabulary lists containing cruelty

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

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Real-Life Superheroes

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The Subtle Knife

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!