CRUEL • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Cruel

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/krˈuəl/ /krul/ Listen

adjective

Cruel adj. (compar. crueller or crueler; superl. cruellest or cruelest)

Disposed to give pain to others; willing or pleased to hurt, torment, or afflict; destitute of sympathetic kindness and pity; savage; inhuman; hard-hearted; merciless. "Behold a people cometh from the north country;... they are cruel and have no mercy."

Causing, or fitted to cause, pain, grief, or misery. "Cruel wars, wasting the earth." "Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath for it was cruel."

Attended with cruetly; painful; harsh. "You have seen cruel proof of this man's strength."

noun

Cruel n. See Crewel.

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Etymology of 'Cruel'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Cruel" Quotes from Famous Books

... not be cruel, do not be ungrateful. This is what I had to say to you. And I must repeat that I leave you with the sadness ...

— The Red Lily, Complete • Anatole France

... "Thou wert the first to cast such words at me, and now thou makest as if thou wouldst amend it, but a cruel and hard heart ...

— The Story of the Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) - With Excerpts from the Poetic Edda • Anonymous

... without a shudder. For example, when he came to the throne, he found in the palace a certain eunuch named Mithridates, who had been concerned in his father's murder. He condemned this man to be put to death in the most horrible and cruel way. He was laid on his back in a kind of horse-trough, and strongly fastened to the four corners of it. Then another trough was put over him, leaving only his head and hands and feet uncovered, for which ...

— The King's Cup-Bearer • Amy Catherine Walton

... army by picking out 1000 of his veteran warriors, who had gained his victories, and putting them to death. Any regiment sent out to battle, if they were defeated, were instantly destroyed on their return; it was, therefore, victory or death with them; and the death was most cruel, being that of impalement. Well was he ...

— The Mission; or Scenes in Africa • Captain Frederick Marryat

... luck," she said slowly, as if she could think of nothing else. "Everything has gone the wrong way with me. My whole life has been ruined by a cruel Fate." ...

— The works of Guy de Maupassant, Vol. 5 (of 8) - Une Vie and Other Stories • Guy de Maupassant 1850-1893

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