Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [kroo-uh l]
- /ˈkru əl/
- /ˈkruːəl/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [kroo-uh l]
- /ˈkru əl/
Definitions of cruel word
- adjective cruel Someone who is cruel deliberately causes pain or distress to people or animals. 3
- adjective cruel A situation or event that is cruel is very harsh and causes people distress. 3
- adjective cruel causing or inflicting pain without pity 3
- adjective cruel causing pain or suffering 3
- adjective cruel deliberately seeking to inflict pain and suffering; enjoying others' suffering; without mercy or pity 3
- adjective cruel causing, or of a kind to cause, pain, distress, etc. 3
Information block about the term
Origin of cruel
First appearance:
before 1175 One of the 8% oldest English words
1175-1225; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin crūdēlis, equivalent to crūd(us) (see crude) + -ēlis adj. suffix
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Cruel
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
cruel popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 95% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
cruel usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for cruel
adj cruel
- atrocious — If you describe something as atrocious, you are emphasizing that its quality is very bad.
- heartless — unfeeling; unkind; unsympathetic; harsh; cruel: heartless words; a heartless ruler.
- harsh — ungentle and unpleasant in action or effect: harsh treatment; harsh manners.
- ruthless — without pity or compassion; cruel; merciless: a ruthless tyrant.
- inhuman — lacking qualities of sympathy, pity, warmth, compassion, or the like; cruel; brutal: an inhuman master.
adjective cruel
- nasty — physically filthy; disgustingly unclean: a nasty pigsty of a room.
- pitiless — feeling or showing no pity; merciless: pitiless criticism of his last novel.
- malicious — full of, characterized by, or showing malice; intentionally harmful; spiteful: malicious gossip.
- vindictive — disposed or inclined to revenge; vengeful: a vindictive person.
- mean — to intend for a particular purpose, destination, etc.: They were meant for each other. Synonyms: destine, foreordain.
Antonyms for cruel
adj cruel
- compassionate — If you describe someone or something as compassionate, you mean that they feel or show pity, sympathy, and understanding for people who are suffering.
- considerate — Someone who is considerate pays attention to the needs, wishes, or feelings of other people.
- kind — of a good or benevolent nature or disposition, as a person: a kind and loving person.
- pleasing — giving pleasure; agreeable; gratifying: a pleasing performance.
- polite — showing good manners toward others, as in behavior, speech, etc.; courteous; civil: a polite reply.
Top questions with cruel
- what does cruel mean?
- why are humans so cruel?
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- why are people so cruel?
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- how do you spell cruel?
- why you gotta be so cruel?
- how can bail be considered unusual and cruel?
- why are people cruel?
- which amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment?
- what is cruel?
- who sings cruel summer?
- which amendment outlaws cruel and unusual punishments?