cruel
Taking pleasure in pain
Cruel describes the willingness to cause pain or suffering without compassion.
A cruel punishment exceeds what justice requires.
A cruel person takes pleasure in others' distress, or simply doesn't care.
Cruel extends to situations that feel punishing even without human agency: a cruel twist of fate, cruel irony.
To be cruel to be kind is to cause short-term pain for someone's long-term benefit.
Fierce and untamed
- ferociousExtremely violent or aggressive
- viciousCruelly aggressive in nature
- barbaricSavagely cruel, uncivilized
- bloodthirstyEager to kill
violent · fierce · merciless · ruthless · bestial · murderous · monstrous · atrocious
Lacking any compassion
- ruthlessLacking any compassion
- unsparingShowing no leniency
- unrelentingRefusing to let up
- unforgivingShowing no leniency
implacable · relentless · inexorable · unyielding · remorseless · unmerciful · hard-hearted · flinty
Devoid of mercy
- degradingLowering in worth
- barbaricSavagely cruel, uncivilized
- unconscionableMorally unacceptable, beyond reason
- unjustNot fair or right
oppressive · exploitative · abhorrent · despicable · reprehensible · deplorable · outrageous · intolerable
Causing extreme pain
- tormentingCausing severe distress
- maliciousMeaning to do harm
- malevolentHarboring ill will
- fiendishExtremely cruel or wicked
diabolical · perverted · twisted · depraved · wicked · evil · sinister · demonic
Lacking interest or concern
- unfeelingWithout compassion or emotion
- insensitiveUnaware of others' emotions
- unsympatheticWithout pity or understanding
- heartlessLacking pity or mercy
uncaring · cold-hearted · apathetic · unmoved · detached · emotionless · hardened · stony
savage
Fierce and untamed
- ferociousExtremely violent or aggressive
- viciousCruelly aggressive in nature
- barbaricSavagely cruel, uncivilized
bloodthirsty · violent · fierce · merciless · ruthless · bestial · murderous · monstrous · atrocious · heinous
pitiless
Lacking any compassion
- ruthlessLacking any compassion
- unsparingShowing no leniency
- unrelentingRefusing to let up
unforgiving · implacable · relentless · inexorable · unyielding · remorseless · unmerciful · hard-hearted · flinty · steely
inhuman
Devoid of mercy
- degradingLowering in worth
- barbaricSavagely cruel, uncivilized
- unconscionableMorally unacceptable, beyond reason
unjust · oppressive · exploitative · abhorrent · despicable · reprehensible · deplorable · outrageous · intolerable · unethical
torturous
Causing extreme pain
- tormentingCausing severe distress
- maliciousMeaning to do harm
- malevolentHarboring ill will
fiendish · diabolical · perverted · twisted · depraved · wicked · evil · sinister · demonic · hellish
indifferent
Lacking interest or concern
- unfeelingWithout compassion or emotion
- insensitiveUnaware of others' emotions
- unsympatheticWithout pity or understanding
heartless · uncaring · cold-hearted · apathetic · unmoved · detached · emotionless · hardened · stony · numb
cruelkind
Type or caring
compassionate · merciful · humane · kindhearted · tenderhearted
- animal crueltyMistreatment of beasts
- cruel kindness
- cruel twist
- cruel jokeDeliberately hurtful humor
- cruel words
- cruel and unusualExcessively harsh and abnormal
cruelty, cruelly, cruelties, cruellest, crueller, crueler, cruelest