Definitions

cruel

[kroo-uhl] / ˈkru əl /

ADJECTIVE

vicious, pitiless; causing pain

Synonyms

STRONGEST

atrocious barbarous bitter brutal callous cold-blooded evil harsh hateful heartless inhuman inhumane merciless painful relentless ruthless sadistic spiteful tyrannical unkind vicious wicked

WEAK

bestial bloodthirsty brutish degenerate demoniac depraved excruciating ferocious fierce flinty hard hard-hearted hellish implacable inexorable malevolent monstrous pernicious poignant rancorous revengeful sinful unfeeling unnatural unrelenting vengeful virulent

Antonyms

STRONGEST

compassionate considerate decent easy feeling friendly gentle giving good helpful humane kind merciful mild moral nice pleasant pleasing polite sympathetic

WEAK

charitable thoughtful uncruel

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.

"They say life can be cruel and today it feels that way," Simons wrote in a social media post.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

In the 1950s, the Court under Warren began to tighten the rules for denaturalization on the grounds that using it as punishment for certain acts was cruel and inhuman.

From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026

Inmates have challenged the use of lethal injections in the past on the grounds they may violate Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

New York is thawing out after a particularly cruel winter that's included debates over fur's revival as influencers push the look and retail sites report a jump in searches for vintage pieces.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

It was like all those cruel things Chip had been saying about his dad all afternoon, that were just Chip being mad and surely couldn’t be true.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Vocabulary lists containing cruel

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