Cruel

Quick meaning: Cruel is an adjective meaning Intentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless.

Meaning

Intentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless.

More Meanings

1. Harsh; severe.
2. (nonstandard) To a great degree; terribly.
3. (Australia, ambitransitive) To violently provoke (a child) in the belief that this will make them more assertive.
4. Alternative form of crewel.
5. (slang) Cool; awesome; neat.
6. (chiefly Australia, New Zealand) To spoil or ruin (one's chance of success)

Example Sentences

What cruelled him was that Imperial Hotel contract.

We're certainly having quite a cruel winter this year.

'I've never got arthritis, though my old dad had it something cruel.'

The supervisor was very cruel to Josh, as he would always give Josh the hardest, most degrading work he could find.

Word Forms

• crueler
• crueller
• cruelest
• cruellest
• cruell
• cruels
• crueling
• cruelling
• crueled
• cruelled

Synonyms for cruel

Depending on context, synonyms include barbarous, bowelless, brutal, compassionless, demonic, despiteful.

Antonyms for cruel

Common opposites include kindly, merciful.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include inhumane, unkind, heartless, barbarous, harsh, brutal.

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