cruel
Intentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless.
Adjective 2 meanings
Intentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless.
“The supervisor was very cruel to Josh, as he would always give Josh the hardest, most degrading work he could find.”
Harsh; severe.
“We're certainly having quite a cruel winter this year.”
Verb 2 meanings
To spoil or ruin (one's chance of success)
To violently provoke (a child) in the belief that this will make them more assertive.
Etymology
From Middle English cruel, borrowed from Old French cruel, from Latin crūdēlis (“hard, severe, cruel”), akin to crūdus (“raw, crude”); see crude.
Similar and opposite words
CRUEL at a glance
CRUEL has 5 letters and scores 7 points in Scrabble (C 3 + R 1 + U 1 + E 1 + L 1) and 10 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #5,772 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with cruel
All rhymesOne letter away
- GRUEL6
- CREEL7
- CRUET7
- CRUES7
Keep going
Related lists
Looking for a different word?
Type the letters you have and the Finder shows every word that fits.