cruel — causing pain or suffering to others without feeling concern about it
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: causing pain or suffering to others without feeling concern about it
Pronunciation (IPA): /kruːəl/
Example Sentences
- My alarm clock is so cruel - it rings at 6 AM even on weekends!
- The cruel dictator showed no mercy to his enemies.
- Life can be cruel sometimes, like when your ice cream falls on the ground.
cruel
ADJECTIVE[/kruːəl/]
causing pain or suffering to others without feeling concern about it

The cruel king laughed as he ordered the prisoner's last meal taken away.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin crudelis, meaning 'bloodthirsty, harsh,' derived from crudus (raw, rough, unripe). The word passed through Medieval French before entering English, where it came to denote deliberate infliction of pain or suffering.
Breakdown
crudus (raw, rough) + -elis (adjective suffix forming descriptive quality), literally 'having the quality of being raw or harsh.'
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My alarm clock is so cruel - it rings at 6 AM even on weekends!”
“The cruel dictator showed no mercy to his enemies.”
“Life can be cruel sometimes, like when your ice cream falls on the ground.”
“It's cruel to keep animals in such small cages.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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