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.

That image is a family portrait, albeit one crisscrossed with cruelty and deception, including fraudulent bloodlines.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

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

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

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

Leonardo dislikes violence and cruelty so much that he’s a vegetarian—rare at the time.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

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!