Cruel Meaning
/ˈkɹuːəl/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjIntentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless.
adjHarsh; severe.
Sentence Examples
It is cruel of you to find fault with her.
The monster's smile was cruel.
He was known to be a cruel dictator.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ dictator showed no mercy to his political opponents.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It is ____ of you to find fault with her.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English cruel, borrowed from Old French cruel, from Latin crūdēlis (“hard, severe, cruel”), akin to crūdus (“raw, crude”); see crude.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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:
"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:
""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:
"'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:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ dictator showed no mercy to his political opponents.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It is ____ of you to find fault with her.