Skip to content
ontologydriven
Sign out

Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

cruel en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • /ˈkɹuːəl/
  • kro͞oəl
  • (Australia) audio
  • /ˈkɹʉul/ (Ireland)
  • (US) audio
  • /kɹuːl/ (also)
  • /ˈkɹʲuːl/ Dublin
  • /kɹʊəl/

Etymology

From Middle English cruel, borrowed from Old French cruel, from Latin crūdēlis (“hard, severe, cruel”), akin to crūdus (“raw, crude”); see crude.

Meanings

  1. Intentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless.
    • The supervisor was very cruel to Josh, as he would always give Josh the hardest, most degrading work he could find.
  2. Harsh; severe.
    • He was physically the toughest of us and wore five layers of polar clothing, but the cold was cruel and wore us down hour after hour. 2013, Ranulph Fiennes, Cold: Extreme Adventures at the Lowest Temperatures on Earth:
    • The thought that something might befall him that would leave her entirely at the mercy of this beast caused him greater anxiety than the probability that almost certain death awaited her should she be left entirely alone upon the outskirts of the cruel forest. 1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1963, page 193:
    • You may be sure they watched the cliffs on their left eagerly for any sign of a break or any place where they could climb them; but those cliffs remained cruel. 1951, C. S. Lewis, Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia:
    • We're certainly having quite a cruel winter this year.
  3. (slang) Cool; awesome; neat.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
crueler Degree=Cmp lexicographic
crueller Degree=Cmp lexicographic
cruellest Degree=Sup lexicographic
more cruel Degree=Cmp lexicographic
most cruel Degree=Sup lexicographic
cruell alternative, obsolete lexicographic
cruelest Degree=Sup lexicographic

Antonyms

merciful · kindly · merciful

Deriveds

cruel mistress · overcruel · cruelness · cruel-hearted · over-cruel · be cruel to be kind · cruelize · uncruel · cruelsome · goodbye, cruel world · cruelly

Hypernyms

evil · mean

Relateds

crude · ill-natured · stern · ill-disposed · ill-intentioned · cruelty

Synonyms

hardened · tough · grim · thick-skinned · frosty · inhuman · marble-hearted · savage · forbidding · despiteful · cold · unpitying · dour · spiteful · demonic · unsympathetic · brutal · hard · callous · flagitious · unmoved · diabolical · unmerciful · flint-hearted · rigorous · sadistic · barbarous · hardhearted · malicious · ruthless · fell · icy · insensitive · sadistic · severe · stonyhearted · truculent · cruel · rotten · pitiless · unbenign · hardhanded · compassionless · cold-eyed · strict · unpitiful · insensate · cruel · incessive · hard-boiled · iron-hearted · bowelless · remorseless · merciless · diabolic · strict · unkind · brutal · stonehearted · stony · rockhearted · unbenevolent · stern · brutal · harsh · nonhumane · heartless · inhumane · callous · humorless · inhuman · inclement · spiteful · nasty

Translations (160)

ms kejam (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · te క్రూరమైన (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ar الْقَاسِي (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ast cruel (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · es cruel (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · mi whakawiriwiri (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · fr cruel (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · tg золим (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · sv grym (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · sh ȍkrūtan (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · kk мейірімсіз (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ko 잔인하다 (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · el σκληρός (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · da ond (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · lt žiaurus (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · hi निर्दयी (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ja 酷い (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · bg жесто́к (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ca cruel (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · he אַכְזָרִי (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · lad ahzar (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · gd garg (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ro crunt (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · sw dhalimu (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · gl cruel (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · uz zolim (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · es cruento (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · th โหดร้าย (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · tr acımasız (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · vi độc ác (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · kmr zalim (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · et julm (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ia cruel (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · nl wreed (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ur نِرْدَیِی (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · eo kruela (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · da grum (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · hi अत्याचारी (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ru жесто́кий (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · wyi nilimjak-koorring (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · hi क्रूर (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · fi julma (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ja 残酷 (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · sh не̏човјечан (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · nl gemeen (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · cy creulon (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · nap malo (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · az mərhəmətsiz (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · tr merhametsiz (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ro cumplit (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · pl okrutny (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ka სასტიკი (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ug بىرەھىم (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · sk krutý (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ga turcánta (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · da grusom (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · gd borb (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ota دینسز (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ky катаал (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · gd brùideil (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · nl wrede (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · gd neo-iochdmhor (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · fa ظالِم (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · hy դաժան (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ja 惨い (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · lad imansiz (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · zdj -i (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · uz vahshiy (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · tr vahşi (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ar قَاسٍ (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · tg бераҳм (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ky ырайымсыз (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · gd mì-chneasta (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · pdt grausom (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · cmn 殘酷 /残酷 (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · sh nȅčovječan (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · da umenneskelig (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · tt рәхимсез (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · fo grimmur (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · tl malupit (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · sq mizor (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · az vəhşi (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · kmr bêrehm (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · nb grusom (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ga daordhálach (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · enm cruel (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · sh не̏човечан (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · uz shafqatsiz (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · th โหด (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · sl krut (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · az qəddar (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · nan-hbl 橫逆 /横逆 (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · yi אכזריותדיק (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · tg золимона (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · az zalım (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ur ظالِمانَہ (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ms zalim (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · da styg (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · cmn 狠心 (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · fa ظالِمانِه (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ur ظالِم (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ga danartha (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ro crud (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · mn хэрцгий (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · oc crusèl (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · id tega (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · is vondur (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · sh о̏крӯтан (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · hu kegyetlen (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · uk жорсто́кий (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · th ทารุณ (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ga ainiochtach (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · pt cruel (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · la crūdēlis (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · sh nȅčovečan (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ko 잔혹하다 (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · is grimmur (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ug رەھىمسىز (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · oc crudèl (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · fy wreed (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · hi उग्र (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · tyz ác (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ang wælhrēow (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · fa بی رَحْم (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · kk қатал (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ug ۋەھشىي (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · sa क्रूर (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ja 残忍 (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ka ულმობელი (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · gd cruadalach (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · it crudele (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · lad kruel (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · uz rahmsiz (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · uz berahm (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · fur crudêl (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · gd neo-thruacanta (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · af wreedaardig (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · yi גרויזאַם (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · nl gemene (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · cmn 殘忍 /残忍 (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · id kejam (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · lv nežēlīgs (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ml ക്രൂരം (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · lt negailestingas (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · hy անգութ (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ga neamhdhuineata (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · az amansız (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · de grausam (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · da(that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · tr zalim (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · cs krutý (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · tg бераҳмона (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · pap kruel (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · hi ज़ालिम (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · ga cruálach (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · scn crudili (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · oc cruèl (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · be жо́рсткі (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · tk rehimsiz (that intentionally causes pain and suffering) · la saevus (that intentionally causes pain and suffering)

cruel en · ADV · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • /ˈkɹuːəl/
  • kro͞oəl
  • (Australia) audio
  • /ˈkɹʉul/ (Ireland)
  • (US) audio
  • /kɹuːl/ (also)
  • /ˈkɹʲuːl/ Dublin
  • /kɹʊəl/

Etymology

From Middle English cruel, borrowed from Old French cruel, from Latin crūdēlis (“hard, severe, cruel”), akin to crūdus (“raw, crude”); see crude.

Meanings

  1. (nonstandard, not-comparable) To a great degree; terribly.
    • 'I've never got arthritis, though my old dad had it something cruel.' 2016, Kerry Greenwood, Murder and Mendelssohn, Sydney: Allen and Unwin, page 219:
    • "But I've served 'im ten years, and I'm fond of 'im, and, mind you, 'e's a great man, when all's said an' done, and it's an honor to serve 'im. But 'e does try one cruel at times." 1913, Arthur Conan Doyle, “(please specify the page)”, in The Poison Belt […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
cruell alternative, obsolete lexicographic

cruel en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • /ˈkɹuːəl/
  • kro͞oəl
  • (Australia) audio
  • /ˈkɹʉul/ (Ireland)
  • (US) audio
  • /kɹuːl/ (also)
  • /ˈkɹʲuːl/ Dublin
  • /kɹʊəl/

Etymology

From Middle English cruel, borrowed from Old French cruel, from Latin crūdēlis (“hard, severe, cruel”), akin to crūdus (“raw, crude”); see crude.

Meanings

  1. (Australia, New-Zealand) To spoil or ruin (one's chance of success)
    • The Trump effect has cruelled Peter Dutton’s campaign. 2025 May 1, Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry, “The Trump effect has left Dutton exposed and Albanese in poll position in this atypical election race”, in The Guardian:
    • He was on the fringes of Test selection last year before a shoulder injury cruelled his chances. 2014 April 1, The Sydney Morning Herald:
    • A shortage of berth space for mega container ships will restrict capacity at Melbourne's port, cruelling Labor's attempts to get maximum value from its privatisation, a leading shipping expert has warned. 2015 September 8, The Age:
    • What cruelled him was that Imperial Hotel contract. 1937, Vance Palmer, Legend for Sanderson, Sydney: Angus & Robertson, page 226:
  2. (Australia, ambitransitive) To violently provoke (a child) in the belief that this will make them more assertive.
    • Violence is apparently introduced early by the practice of "cruelling": children even in their first months are physically punished and then encouraged to seek retribution by punishing the punisher. 2007, Stewart Motha, “Reconciliation as Domination”, in Scott Veitch, editor, Law and the Politics of Reconciliation, Routledge, published 2016, page 83:
    • […] I was referring to the area where you were talking about this practice of cruelling; the pinching of babies, sometimes so hard that their skin breaks and may go septic. 2009 July 2, Mark Colvin, “Peter Sutton discusses the politics of suffering in Aboriginal communities”, in ABC, archived from the original on 17 Jan 2010:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
crueling Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part US lexicographic
cruels Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
crueled Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part US lexicographic
crueled Tense=Past US lexicographic
cruelled Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part UK lexicographic
cruelled Tense=Past UK lexicographic
cruell alternative, obsolete lexicographic
cruelling Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part UK lexicographic

cruel en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • /ˈkɹuːəl/
  • kro͞oəl
  • (Australia) audio
  • /ˈkɹʉul/ (Ireland)
  • (US) audio
  • /kɹuːl/ (also)
  • /ˈkɹʲuːl/ Dublin
  • /kɹʊəl/

Meanings

  1. (alt-of, alternative, countable, uncountable) Alternative form of crewel.
    alt of crewel

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
cruell alternative, obsolete lexicographic
cruels Number=Plur lexicographic