cruelty

noun

cru·​el·​ty ˈkrü(-ə)l-tē 

plural cruelties

1

: the quality or state of being cruel

2

a

: a cruel action

b

: inhuman treatment

3

: marital conduct held (as in a divorce action) to endanger life or health or to cause mental suffering or fear

Synonyms

• atrociousness
• atrocity
• barbarity
• barbarousness
• brutality
• cruelness
• fiendishness
• heartlessness
• inhumanity
• inhumanness
• sadism
• savageness
• savagery
• truculence
• viciousness
• wantonness

Examples of cruelty in a Sentence

a dictator known for his cruelty

The cruelty of children can be surprising.

They protested against cruelty to animals.

Recent Examples on the Web

By the time this piece comes out, Moo Deng’s appearance on Weekend Update will have been overshadowed by Yang kissing Ariana Grande in a skit about family charades gone awry and Mariah Carey protesting the cruelty of overhead lighting on Las Culturistas. —Sarah Burke, Them, 23 Oct. 2024

Wilder’s film, for all its offbeat humor and quotable zingers, was always about the ugliness of Hollywood and the monstrous cruelty of an industry that drains its players like a vampire does its victims. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2024

Meanwhile, his courtship of Ivana (Maria Bakalova) devolves from romance to prenup to cruelty. —The New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2024

His father, Colin Gray, was indicted on 29 counts, including two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of involuntary manslaughter, and multiple counts of second-degree cruelty to children and reckless conduct. —Mallika Kallingal, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cruelte, from Anglo-French cruelté, from Latin crudelitat-, crudelitas, from crudelis

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cruelty

• anti-cruelty
• cruelty-free

Kids Definition

cruelty

noun

cru·​el·​ty ˈkrü-əl-tē 

plural cruelties

1

: the quality or state of being cruel

2

: cruel treatment

Legal Definition

cruelty

noun

cru·​el·​ty

plural cruelties

1

a

: an intentional or criminally negligent act that causes pain and suffering

cruelty to animals

cruelty to children

b

: mistreatment or neglect that causes pain and suffering compare abuse

Note: Cruelty is an aggravating circumstance to a crime (as murder).

2

: a spouse's conduct that endangers life or health or causes mental suffering or fear

called also cruel and inhuman treatment

Note: Cruelty is a ground for divorce.