cruelty

cruelty — noun

1. The act or habit of causing pain or suffering to people or animals, especially w

1.nounB1
Definition

The act or habit of causing pain or suffering to people or animals, especially when done deliberately.

Example

Pim could not understand the cruelty of people who abandon pets on the street.

cruelty + of + group/person

Zuri was shocked by the cruelty towards homeless people in her city.

cruelty + towards + someone

Common collocations
  • cruelty to animals
  • cruelty towards children
  • act of cruelty
  • physical cruelty
  • mental cruelty
Synonyms
  • brutality

    Emphasises physical violence more strongly than cruelty

  • harshness

    Less extreme than cruelty; can describe strict treatment or severe conditions

  • ruthlessness

    Focuses on the lack of guilt or hesitation when causing harm

  • savagery

    Suggests wild, violent cruelty with no control

Antonyms
  • kindness

    The opposite quality of being gentle, caring, and considerate

  • compassion

    A feeling of concern for the suffering of others that leads to helpful action

Grammar Patterns

cruelty + to + someone

cruelty + towards + someone

cruelty + against + someone

act of cruelty

Usage Note

Can be uncountable (cruelty as a general quality, e.g. 'cruelty to animals') or countable ('the cruelties of war' = specific cruel acts). The countable form is less common and usually appears in plural.

Common Mistakes

The cruelty to animals is wrong.
Cruelty to animals is wrong.
No article needed when cruelty is used as a general uncountable concept.
He treated her with cruelty and disrespectful.
He treated her with cruelty and disrespect.
Use a parallel noun form after 'with'.

Word family

  • cruel
    adjectiveB1
  • cruelly
    adverbB2
  • cruelness
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Cruelty is the broadest term, covering any deliberate infliction of pain — physical, emotional, or through neglect. Brutality narrows the focus to physical violence, often with excessive force (e.g., police brutality). Harshness is milder and can describe a strict teacher's tone or a difficult climate, not necessarily intentional harm. Ruthlessness goes further, describing a person who causes harm without guilt or hesitation — a ruthless businessperson might destroy competitors without remorse. Use cruelty for general condemnation, brutality for violent acts, harshness for severity without the intent to wound, and ruthlessness for cold, determined heartlessness.

cruelty ↗brutalityharshnessruthlessness

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • act of cruelty
  • cruelty to animals
  • victim of cruelty

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Cruelty entered English through Old French 'cruelté,' which came from Latin 'crudelitas,' a noun built on 'crudelis' (cruel, hard-hearted). The Latin root 'crudus' meant 'raw, rough, unfeeling,' and is also the source of the English word 'crude.' The sense has stayed remarkably stable over nearly a thousand years — always about inflicting pain or suffering on others.