cruelty

pronunciation

How to pronounce cruelty in British English: UK [ˈkruːəlti] word uk audio image

How to pronounce cruelty in American English: US [ˈkruːəlti] word us audio image

Noun:

a cruel act; a deliberate infliction of pain and suffering
feelings of extreme heartlessness
the quality of being cruel and causing tension or annoyance

Word Origin

cruelty (n.): early 13c., from Old French crualté (12c., Modern French cruauté), from Latin crudelitatem (nominative crudelitas) "cruelty," from crudelis (see cruel).

Synonym

n.

murderousness truculence barbarousness brutishness fierceness harshness viciousness ruthlessness bloodthirstiness cold-bloodedness fiendishness ferocity grimness inhumanity brutality deviltry savagery barbarity

Example

1. The central theme is cruelty to children , and its lasting effect .

2. It 's more about sadness and loneliness than about cruelty or inhumanity .

3. Even if true , it would not justify such cruelty ; but it isn 't true .

4. The death of jesus was not unique in its cruelty , however horrible it may have been .

5. How else to convey its mad caprices , the incomprehensible scale of his cruelty and the spiralling paranoia ?

more: >How to Use "cruelty" with Example Sentences