cruel-hearted
Lacking all kindness
Cruel-hearted describes someone disposed to causing pain or suffering, suggesting cruelty as a fundamental character trait rather than occasional behavior.
The compound emphasizes that the cruelty originates from within—from the heart, the seat of feeling: a cruel-hearted tyrant who delighted in his subjects' misery.
The word appears mainly in literary or dramatic contexts.
Fierce and untamed
- viciousCruelly aggressive in nature
- barbaricSavagely cruel, uncivilized
- ferociousExtremely violent or aggressive
- bloodthirstyEager to kill
sadistic · fiendish · monstrous · beastly · violent · murderous · bestial · brutish
Lacking any compassion
- unrelentingRefusing to let up
- pitilessLacking any compassion
- unsparingShowing no leniency
- unforgivingShowing no leniency
implacable · relentless · inexorable · vindictive · vengeful · punishing · stern · harsh
Without compassion or emotion
- insensitiveUnaware of others' emotions
- hardenedMade tough or unfeeling
- uncompassionateWithout sympathy or mercy
- pitilessLacking any compassion
soulless · uncharitable · unmerciful · cold-blooded · remorseless · thick-skinned · unsympathetic · inhumane
savage
Fierce and untamed
- viciousCruelly aggressive in nature
- barbaricSavagely cruel, uncivilized
- ferociousExtremely violent or aggressive
bloodthirsty · sadistic · fiendish · monstrous · beastly · violent · murderous · bestial · brutish · atrocious
ruthless
Lacking any compassion
- unrelentingRefusing to let up
- pitilessLacking any compassion
- unsparingShowing no leniency
unforgiving · implacable · relentless · inexorable · vindictive · vengeful · punishing · stern · harsh · severe
unfeeling
Without compassion or emotion
- insensitiveUnaware of others' emotions
- hardenedMade tough or unfeeling
- uncompassionateWithout sympathy or mercy
pitiless · soulless · uncharitable · unmerciful · cold-blooded · remorseless · thick-skinned · unsympathetic · inhumane · uncaring
icy
Frozen or unfriendly
chilly · emotionless · detached · aloof · distant · remote · withdrawn · reserved · standoffish · unloving
cruel-heartedtenderhearted
Readily feeling sympathy
kindhearted · softhearted · warmhearted · compassionate · gentle
cruel-heartedbenevolent
Desiring others' welfare
kind · good-hearted · good-natured · charitable · generous
cruel, cruelly, cruelty, cruelties, crueler, cruelest, heart, hearts, hearted