cruel

Meanings

• adjective

  Unnecessarily or excessively mean, violent, or unkind.

  - "The cruel treatment of animals is unacceptable."
  - "His cruel jokes often offended people."

• adjective

  Showing no compassion or concern for others.

  - "The cruel commander punished his soldiers mercilessly."
  - "Her cruel words left deep emotional scars."

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Pronunciation

1. /kɹuː(ə)l/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75270169"
2. /kɹuː(ə)l/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75270169"

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Antonyms

merciful

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Synonyms

brutal , sadistic

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with cruel
rule , school , cool , fool , mule , jewel , duel , guild

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Variants

List of all variants of cruel that leads to same result
cruel , crueler , cruelest , crueller , cruellest , cruelly , cruelness , cruelnesses , cruel and unusual punishment , cruel blow

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Old English crūel, from crūelian, related to crēowan ‘to cry out’.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The term 'cruel and unusual punishment' is a legal concept that prohibits excessive or unnecessary punishment.

2. The cruel elephant is a term used in the ivory trade to describe an elephant with large, curved tusks.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. sadism: A psychological disorder characterized by deriving pleasure from inflicting pain or suffering on others.

2. masochism: A psychological disorder characterized by deriving pleasure from receiving pain or suffering.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Cruelty is a common theme in literature, art, and music. In literature, cruel characters are often portrayed as villains or antagonists. In art, cruelty can be depicted in various forms such as violence, gore, or suffering. In music, cruelty can be expressed through heavy metal or other genres that explore dark themes.

How to Memorize "cruel"

1. visualize
   

   - Visualize a person being unnecessarily mean or violent towards others.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word with the feeling of unkindness or lack of compassion.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Remember that cruel starts with the letter C and has the sound of 'rule'.

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