1
as in brutal
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others
a cruel dictator who tortured anyone who dared to speak out against him cruel and unusual punishments are forbidden by the U.S. Constitution
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in harsh
difficult to endure
the cruel climate of the Arctic
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
the cruel situation of being orphaned at an early age
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4
as in malicious
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
the bully was fond of making cruel little jabs at his victim's sore points
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Examples of cruel in a Sentence
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Recent Examples on the Web
The group says that industrial milk production practices are cruel to cows and that many travelers are lactose intolerant.
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Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 24 Oct. 2024
But history’s cruel lesson is that some democracies are valued more than others, which is why Armenia’s current mission is to dramatically boost its own worth.
—Charlie Campbell / Yerevan, TIME, 22 Oct. 2024
The House on Sorority Row (1982) A cruel prank goes awry when sorority girl Vicki (Eileen Davidson) shoots the house mother, Mrs. Slater (Lois Kelso Hunt).
—Steven Thrash, EW.com, 19 Oct. 2024
The sport was very cruel in those decades, the sixties, the seventies and part of the eighties.
—Jim Clash, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cruel 
Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 24 Oct. 2024
But history’s cruel lesson is that some democracies are valued more than others, which is why Armenia’s current mission is to dramatically boost its own worth.
—Charlie Campbell / Yerevan, TIME, 22 Oct. 2024
The House on Sorority Row (1982) A cruel prank goes awry when sorority girl Vicki (Eileen Davidson) shoots the house mother, Mrs. Slater (Lois Kelso Hunt).
—Steven Thrash, EW.com, 19 Oct. 2024
The sport was very cruel in those decades, the sixties, the seventies and part of the eighties.
—Jim Clash, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cruel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cruel
Adjective
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The incident evokes the brutal post-Soviet years of murky executions in Russia among the political and business mafias.Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024
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The brothers were convicted in 1996 of murder with special circumstances in the brutal shotgun killings of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, inside their Beverly Hills home.James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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There are also more-than-adequate storage spaces in the large center console annd all four doors. CHANGE: The ride quality The ride quality is a little harsher in the Sorento than in some of its competitors, especially with the 20-inch wheels and lower profile tires the tester came equipped with.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
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Trump’s comments on Taiwan have been unusually harsh for China policy in Washington, where there is a general bipartisan consensus to be tough on Beijing and Xi, who has pledged to reunify with Taipei, by force if necessary.Brad Dress, The Hill, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The impact was profound and Jones said he was left with painful memories of the trips to the psychiatric hospital, unsure exactly why his mother couldn’t come home with him.Steve Marble, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
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Ryan McLean, a New York City fireman who donated bone marrow to a three-year-old child in 2022, says the process was quick and easy, not painful and with a long recovery period as donors are often led to believe.Pia Velasco, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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While there have been no major reports of any malicious cyberactivity affecting election offices, foreign actors have been active in using fake social media profiles and websites to drum up partisan vitriol and disinformation.Chris Morris, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
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Clicking the links could add malicious software to your device and allow the scammer to track your online activity.Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Lily Hay Newman a minute ago Outrage over the death of Peanut the squirrel is resulting in vicious hate speech, doxing, and threats of violence, including death threats, directed toward the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and its employees.WIRED, WIRED, 4 Nov. 2024
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This vicious cycle squanders taxpayer dollars and enables politicians to reap gains without actually benefiting constituents.Ge Bai, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The course reversal with the closure of the Los Angeles office followed a review of the Sister board that examined the tough market conditions that have been exacerbated by the pandemic, double Hollywood strikes and the ongoing industry contraction.Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2024
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The intrigue: In a sign of the tough work that delegates, nonprofit organizations and others have ahead of them in Cali and beyond, CTrees found that an average of 26,641 square miles of tropical forest are being degraded per year.Andrew Freedman, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The right boots, however, can make previously torturous bell-to-bell days no big deal.Drew Zieff, Outside Online, 9 Oct. 2024
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Parking is torturous enough through the Melrose corridor on the weekdays, plus giving a restaurant staff off on Saturday and Sunday seems boldly civilized.Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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And just as hateful, outlandish, and conspiracist misinformation have eroded Americans’ trust in one another, institutions, and basic facts, this environment is taking a psychic toll on election workers.Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2024
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But as anti-trans bills flooded their state, hateful rhetoric heated up.Kate Sosin, Them, 21 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near cruel
Cite this Entry
“Cruel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cruel. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
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