Meaning of cruel in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Classifying Adjective
    1. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈkru(ə)l/

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  1. Classifying Adjective

    cruel

    Definitions

    1. lacking or showing kindness or compassion or mercy

    Synonyms

  2. 2. (of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

    Examples

    • « a barbarous crime »
    • « brutal beatings »
    • « cruel tortures »
    • « Stalin's roughshod treatment of the kulaks »
    • « a savage slap »
    • « vicious kicks »

    Synonyms

  3. 3. (of weapons or instruments) causing suffering and pain

    Examples

    • « brutal instruments of torture »
    • « cruel weapons of war »

    Synonyms

  4. 4. used of circumstances (especially weather) that cause suffering

    Examples

    • « brutal weather »
    • « northern winters can be cruel »
    • « a cruel world »
    • « a harsh climate »
    • « a rigorous climate »
    • « unkind winters »

    Synonyms

Famous quotes

  • « Your belief in God is merely an escape from your monotonous, stupid and cruel life. »
    Jiddu Krishnamurti
  • « I am certain no one sets out to be cruel, but our treatment of the elderly ill seems to have no philosophy to it. As a society, we should establish whether we have a policy of life at any cost. »
    Terry Pratchett
  • « I learned that it is the weak who are cruel, and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong. »
    Leo Rosten
  • « I feel like the people from Iceland have a different relationship with their country than other places. Most Icelandic people are really proud to be from there, and we don't have embarrassments like World War II where we were cruel to other people. »
    Bjork
  • « You know, I'm Australian, and we have got the worst sense of humor. We are cruel to each other. »
    Steve Irwin

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