cruelty

[ kroo-uhl-tee ]

noun

, plural cru·el·ties

1. the state or quality of being cruel.

   Synonyms: ruthlessness, harshness, atrocity, inhumanity, barbarity, brutality

2. cruel disposition or conduct.

   Antonyms: kindness

3. a cruel act.

   Antonyms: kindness

4. Law. conduct by a spouse that causes grievous bodily harm or mental suffering.

cruelty

/ ˈkruːəltɪ /

noun

1. deliberate infliction of pain or suffering
2. the quality or characteristic of being cruel
3. a cruel action
4. law conduct that causes danger to life or limb or a threat to bodily or mental health, on proof of which a decree of divorce may be granted

Other Words From

• anti·cruel·ty adjective
• self-cruel·ty noun plural selfcruelties

Word History and Origins

Origin of cruelty¹

1175–1225; Middle English cruelte < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin crūdēlitāt- (stem of crūdēlitās ). See cruel, -ity

Example Sentences

I won’t forget such cruelty, but in my struggle to stay engaged, I will seek out humor as needed.

From Los Angeles Times

And most urgently now, how violence, lies and cruelty work in and on our brains, and how to stop it.

From Salon

She also made a payment to a PayPal account to encourage cruelty.

From BBC

Det Ch Insp Ben Arrowsmith said it was the first time in British legal history that "charges relating to animal cruelty have been brought for offences that took place abroad, where the offenders are in the UK".

From BBC

"The hatred and deviant fascination the defendants have shown in relation to the cruelty and abuse towards monkeys is incomprehensible," he said.

From BBC

Related Words

• barbarism
• barbarity
• inhumanity
• malice
• persecution
• savagery
• torture