cru·el
(krōṓəl)
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin crūdēlis.]
adjective: -el·er or -el·ler, -el·est or -el·lest
- Disposed to inflict pain or suffering.
- Causing suffering; painful.
derivatives
- crúel·ly
- adverb
- crúel·ness
- noun
synonyms:
cruel, fierce, ferocious, barbarous, inhuman, savage, vicious These adjectives mean predisposed to inflict violence, pain, or hardship, or to find satisfaction in the suffering of others: a cruel tyrant; a fierce warrior; a ferocious attack dog; a barbarous crime; inhuman treatment of captured soldiers; a savage outburst of temper; a vicious kick.