cru´el|ness

cru´el|ness
cruel «KROO uhl», adjective.
1. fond of causing pain to others and delighting in their suffering; not caring about the pain and suffering of others; hardhearted: »

The cruel man whipped his horse.

2. showing a cruel nature: »

cruel acts.

3. causing pain and suffering: »

a cruel war. Arthritis is a cruel disease of the joints.

[< Old French cruel < Latin crūdēlis rough, related to crūdus crude]
cru´el|ly, adverb.
cru´el|ness, noun.
Synonym Study 1 Cruel, brutal, pitiless mean unfeeling in treatment of people and animals. Cruel implies indifference to the physical or mental suffering of others and willingness to cause or add to it: »

The cruel master mistreated his slaves. The cruel remark was difficult to forget.

Brutal suggests the cruelty of a wild animal, shown in acts of physical violence: »

Brutal captors beat their prisoners.

Pitiless implies cold unwillingness to show mercy to those who are suffering: »

The pitiless ruler refused to help the poor.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • cru — an·a·cru·sis; chlo·ro·cru·o·rin; co·me·cru·do; cru; cru·cet·house; cru·cial; cru·ci·al·i·ty; cru·cial·ly; cru·cian; cru·cia·nel·la; cru·cib·u·lum; cru·ci·fer; cru·cif·er·ae; cru·cif·er·ous; cru·ci·fi·er; cru·ci·fix; cru·ci·fix·ion; cru·ci·fy;… …   English syllables

  • cru´el|ly — cruel «KROO uhl», adjective. 1. fond of causing pain to others and delighting in their suffering; not caring about the pain and suffering of others; hardhearted: »The cruel man whipped his horse. 2. showing a cruel nature: »cruel acts. 3. causing …   Useful english dictionary

  • cruelness — cru·el·ness …   English syllables

  • cruel — cru•el [[t]ˈkru əl[/t]] adj. er, est 1) willfully causing pain or distress to others 2) enjoying the pain or distress of others 3) causing or marked by great pain or distress 4) unrelentingly severe; merciless; brutal • Etymology: 1175–1225; ME… …   From formal English to slang

  • Cruelness — Cru el*ness, n. Cruelty. [Obs.] Spenser. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ci — aca·ci·in; ac·ci·dence; ac·ci·dens; ac·ci·dent; ac·ci·den·tal·ism; ac·ci·den·tal·ist; ac·ci·den·tal·i·ty; ac·ci·den·tal·ly; ac·ci·dent·ed; ac·ci·dent·ly; ac·ci·die; ac·ci·pit·ri·dae; ad·e·no·car·ci·no·ma; adult·i·ci·dal; ae·ci·o·spore; ae·ci·um;… …   English syllables

  • Re — Re; re·able; re·absorb; re·absorption; re·accept; re·access; re·accession; re·acclimatization; re·acclimatize; re·accommodate; re·accommodation; re·accounting; re·accredit; re·accreditation; re·acetylation; re·acknowledge; re·acquaint;… …   English syllables

  • ma — abo·ma; ab·o·ma·sal; ab·o·ma·sum; abro·ma; ab·u·ku·ma·lite; abu·lo·ma·nia; acan·tho·chei·lo·ne·ma; ac·an·tho·ma; acan·tho·so·ma; ac·cla·ma·tion; ac·cli·ma·ta·tion; ac·cli·ma·tion; ac·cli·ma·ti·za·tion; ac·cli·ma·tize; acel·da·ma; acho·ma·wi;… …   English syllables

  • ri — abac·te·ri·al; ab·de·ri·an; ab·ka·ri; ac·an·thop·te·ri; ac·an·thu·ri·dae; ac·a·ri·a·sis; ac·a·ri·na; ac·a·ri·nar·i·um; ac·a·ri·nol·o·gy; ac·a·ri·no·sis; ac·ces·so·ri·al; ac·ces·so·ri·us; ac·ci·pit·ri·dae; ac·cus·a·to·ri·al; acera·the·ri·um;… …   English syllables

  • a — acar·a·pis; ac·a·ri·a·sis; ac·a·ri·a·sis; ac·a·ri·na; ac·a·ri·nar·i·um; ac·a·rine; ac·a·ri·nol·o·gy; ac·a·ri·no·sis; ac·a·ro·ce·cid·i·um; ac·a·roid; ac·a·rol·o·gist; ac·a·rol·o·gy; ac·a·ro·pho·bia; ac·a·rus; acat·a·lep·sy; acat·a·lex·is;… …   English syllables

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