cruel

/ˈkruːəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkruːəl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkrü(-ə)l/ (ame, mw)

cruel — adjective

  • cruelpositive
  • more cruelcomparative
  • most cruelsuperlative

1. A person who is cruel chooses to make someone or an animal suffer, either throug

1.形容詞B1
釋義

A person who is cruel chooses to make someone or an animal suffer, either through physical harm, hurtful words, or denying them care and kindness. A cruel action is one that is done on purpose to cause pain or distress.

例句

The farmer was cruel to the horses, beating them for no reason.

be cruel to [person/animal] — prepositional phrase showing the target of cruelty

Tanvi's classmates made cruel jokes about her accent on her first day at school.

cruel + noun describing harmful speech (jokes/remarks/comments)

同義詞
  • mean

    Less severe than 'cruel'; describes petty unkindness rather than deliberate infliction of suffering. Informal. 'Mean' does not typically cover physical violence.

  • vicious

    Stronger and more violent than 'cruel'; suggests aggressive, ferocious behaviour intended to harm. Often used for physical attacks.

  • ruthless

    Describes someone who achieves goals without pity or moral restraint. Unlike 'cruel', the harm is a by-product of determination, not the main goal.

  • savage

    Extremely violent and brutal. Suggests primitive, unchecked anger. Stronger and more graphic than 'cruel', often used in news reports of attacks.

反義詞
  • kind

    The direct opposite; describes someone who cares about others' feelings and tries to help.

  • compassionate

    Emphasises emotional understanding and sympathy for suffering. More formal and deeper than 'kind'.

  • gentle

    Describes softness and care in action, especially relevant when contrasting with cruel treatment of animals or children.

文法句型

cruel to + noun/pronoun

cruel + noun (action/treatment/remark/punishment)

it is cruel + to-infinitive

it is cruel of + noun + to-infinitive

用法筆記

Frequently followed by the preposition 'to' to indicate the target (be cruel to someone/something). Commonly used in legal and institutional contexts, e.g. 'cruel and unusual punishment', 'cruel treatment of animals'.

常見錯誤

❌My teacher was cruel because she gave us a lot of homework.
✅My teacher was strict because she gave us a lot of homework.
💡'cruel' means deliberately causing pain; 'strict' means demanding rules and discipline.
❌He was cruel with his younger brother.
✅He was cruel to his younger brother.
💡The correct preposition is 'to', not 'with'.
❌She is a cruel person who always tells the truth.
✅She is a blunt person who always tells the truth.
💡'cruel' implies intent to hurt; 'blunt' means direct without softening, but not necessarily malicious.

2. A cruel event or situation is one that causes unnecessary suffering, disappointm

2.形容詞B2
釋義

A cruel event or situation is one that causes unnecessary suffering, disappointment, or hardship, often happening unexpectedly to people who do not deserve it.

例句

It was a cruel twist of fate that Hyun lost her job on the same day her husband fell ill.

a cruel twist of fate — fixed idiomatic expression for undeserved misfortune

Obi received the cruel news that his scholarship had been cancelled without warning.

cruel news — collocation for unexpectedly unpleasant information

同義詞
  • harsh

    Less emotive than 'cruel'. Describes conditions that are difficult or unpleasant, without the implication of unfairness. 'Harsh winter' vs. 'a cruel twist of fate'.

  • brutal

    Stronger, more violent connotation. 'Brutal honesty' or 'brutal weather' suggests an overwhelming, punishing quality. Closer to physical intensity than emotional unfairness.

  • bitter

    Focuses on the emotional disappointment of an outcome. 'A bitter disappointment' emphasises the feeling of sadness rather than the unfairness.

反義詞
  • kind

    Used across both senses; a kind fate or kind outcome is the opposite of a cruel event.

  • merciful

    Specifically contrasts with 'cruel event' — a merciful outcome brings relief rather than suffering.

  • fortunate

    Describes events that bring good luck, the opposite of a cruel twist of fate.

文法句型

a cruel + noun (fate/blow/twist/irony)

it is/seems cruel that + clause

cruel + noun (news/defeat/disappointment)

用法筆記

This sense only applies to events, situations, or abstract forces (fate, life, the weather), never directly to people or animals. Common in fixed phrases like 'a cruel blow', 'a cruel twist of fate', and 'the cruel sea'. The cruelty is not intentional — it describes the painful effect, not a malicious cause.

常見錯誤

❌The storm was cruel because it destroyed our garden.
✅The storm was destructive because it destroyed our garden.
💡'cruel' for events implies undeserved hardship affecting people, not property damage.
❌She is a cruel boss who always fires people.
✅She is a ruthless boss who always fires people.
💡When describing a person who makes hard decisions without pity, 'ruthless' is more accurate than the 'harsh event' sense of 'cruel'.
❌What a cruel weather today.
✅What terrible weather today.
💡'Cruel' is not used freely with all negative events; it requires a sense of undeserved personal suffering.