CRUELTY Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

cruelty

noun

ˈkrü(-ə)l-tē

Definition of cruelty

as in brutality

disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others centuries after he ravaged Europe, Attila the Hun remains notorious for his cruelty

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of cruelty The 48-year-old Rosemead resident was charged Thursday with a misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals, records show. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026 How has this added to the cruelties Haiti and its people have endured since their successful revolution began in 1791? — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026 Its restrictions cover suicide and self-harm promotion, eating disorder encouragement, body shaming, non-consensual intimate imagery, harassment, and animal cruelty. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026 Ted Gualtier, owner of Happy Tail Happy Dog, LLC, has been charged by Denver authorities with one count of cruelty to animals. — Brian Maass, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cruelty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cruelty

Noun

Notable releases include a novel about police brutality, the return of Barbara Kingsolver, 1980s fiction and a deep dive into the very real specter of artificial intelligence.

— Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 8 Oct. 2026
The government suspended the use of stun grenades after a 15-year-old boy's hand was blown off earlier in the week, fueling accusations of police brutality.

— Jenni Reid, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of brutality

Noun

The Monitor's View This year’s award went to a South African jurist who not only reshaped international law but also says her inspiration came from survivors of atrocities who never gave up their dignity.

— the Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Oct. 2026
Many of the Russian journalists working in Ukraine at the start of the war, where atrocities wage on, now have criminal cases against them.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of atrocity

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cruelness

cruelty

cruelty-free

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“Cruelty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cruelty. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of cruelty

noun

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