cruelty

[kroo-uhl-tee] / ˈkru əl ti /

NOUN

brutality, harshness

Synonyms

STRONGEST

barbarism barbarity inhumanity malice persecution savagery torture

STRONG

animality bestiality bloodthirstiness callousness coarseness coldness depravity despotism ferocity fierceness heartlessness insensibility insensitiveness malignity masochism mercilessness murderousness rancor ruthlessness sadism savageness severity spite spitefulness truculence unfeelingness unkindness venom viciousness wickedness

WEAK

brutishness fiendishness hard-heartedness

Antonyms

STRONGEST

kindness

STRONG

love

WEAK

charity compassion consideration feeling gentility mercy niceness thoughtfulness

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.

Figures obtained by BBC News NI also show that during the past five years there were 262 convictions at court in Northern Ireland for animal welfare or cruelty offences.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

"It's just cruelty and collective punishment," Jayapal added.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

Sometimes it’s the chaos, not the cruelty, that’s the point.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

This is a novel about pettiness, middle-class superficiality, disloyalty, prejudice and cruelty, with this coterie of rather vile friends acting as a microcosm for a society in decline.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Catherine is one of only four women in the class of ’31 and her cruelty knows no bounds.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

Vocabulary lists containing cruelty

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

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The Subtle Knife

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