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Cruel
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Cruel
/ˈkruːəl/
Treating others with deliberate aggression, lack of care, or causing pain.
Synonyms:
brutal
harsh
inhumane
vicious
savage
Antonyms:
kind
compassionate
benevolent
merciful
gentle
Examples:
'This seems a
cruel
thing, after all.'
You may still be the
cruel
tyrant's friend.
What is Macbeth, the
cruel
tyrant, doing?
Etymology:
The word
cruel
comes from the Latin word
crudelis
meaning
hard-hearted
, and it entered Middle English through Old French.
Usage Statistics:
13 mentions per 1 million words
Moderate
Hint:
Frequency according to COCA
Formal Synonyms
Informal Synonyms
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