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.

"It is cruel for Arsenal fans, but it is inevitable that this club win the Champions League," European football expert Julien Laurens said on 5 Live.

From BBC • May 30, 2026

They say wild animals shouldn’t be taken out of their natural habitat; capybaras love water, mud, and grass, and it’s cruel to take them away from it.

From Slate • May 27, 2026

Norman Hunter, Tommy Smith and Ron Harris were good players but they were cruel in the way they played.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

The cruel realities of baseball suggest that 34-year-olds with a résumé like his don’t magically transform into perennial All-Stars.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Through my left eye, I see Althea Sharpe standing over me with a wand in her hand and a cruel smile on her lips.

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

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