WordWeb Online

1. A cruel act; a deliberate infliction of pain and suffering
   - inhuman treatment
    
2. Feelings of extreme heartlessness
   - mercilessness, pitilessness, ruthlessness
    
3. The quality of being cruel and causing tension or annoyance
   - cruelness, harshness

Derived forms: cruelties

Type of: abuse, coldheartedness, hardheartedness, heartlessness, ill-treatment, ill-usage, malevolence, malevolency, malice, maltreatment

Encyclopedia: Cruelty