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.

It really showcases her talent for the English language by fitting so much cruelty and stupidity into just six words.

From Salon • May 11, 2026

"We recognise we have an ageing population and agree the current system is broken, but we are not into performative cruelty."

From BBC • May 4, 2026

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

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

It was like “The Truman Show” mixed with “Twelve Angry Men,” or a segment of “Candid Camera” stretched into a series, or Nathan Fielder’s “The Rehearsal,” minus the neuroses and cruelty.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

“How devastating. How delightful. Chic cruelty never goes out of style.”

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi

Vocabulary lists containing cruelty

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Real-Life Superheroes

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

The Subtle Knife

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!