Noun: cruelty kroo-ul-tee
- The quality or state of being harsh or cruel; deliberately causing hurt, pain or suffering
"The cruelty of his practical jokes eventually alienated all his friends";
- cruelness, harshness
- A cruel act; a deliberate infliction of pain and suffering
"The prisoners suffered cruelty at the hands of their captors";
- inhuman treatment
- Feelings of extreme heartlessness
"The cruelty of the dictator shocked the world";
- mercilessness, pitilessness, ruthlessness
Derived forms: cruelties
Type of: abuse, coldheartedness, hardheartedness, heartlessness, ill-treatment, ill-usage, malevolence, malevolency, malice, maltreatment
Encyclopedia: Cruelty