English Explanatory Dictionary

cruelty

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An indifference to suffering or pleasure in inflicting suffering.
  2. A cruel act.

Pronunciation

/ˈkɹuː(ə)lti/ en-us-cruelty.ogg

Word forms

cruelty cruelties cruellty cruelltie

Etymology

From Middle English cruelte, from Old French crualté (French cruauté), from Latin crudelitas. By surface analysis, cruel + -ty.

Synonyms

mercilessness barbarism ruthlessness

Antonyms

mercy clemency

Derived words

anticruelty cruelty-free mental cruelty
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