# cruel

/ˈkɹuəɫ/ (US) · /kɹˈuːəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cruel
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. causing pain

adjective · CEFR B1

wanting to cause pain or suffering to others without feeling sorry.

For teachers: wilfully causing pain or distress to others; devoid of humane feelings or mercy.

- It was cruel of the children to tease the stray cat.
- The dictator was known for his cruel treatment of political prisoners, often ignoring basic human rights to maintain his grip on power.

### 2. harsh or severe

adjective · CEFR B2

very painful, difficult, or unfair.

For teachers: causing great pain or distress; severe or rigorous in a way that feels unjust.

- The cold winter was cruel to the homeless people in the city.
- Fate dealt him a cruel blow when he lost his job only a week before his first child was born.

### 3. extremely

adverb · CEFR C1 · Dialect

used to mean 'very' or 'extremely' when describing something bad.

For teachers: used as an intensifier meaning 'extremely' or 'terribly'.

- The weather today is cruel cold, so you should wear a heavy coat.
- The hike was cruel hard on my knees, especially during the steep descent back to the base camp.

### 4. to ruin a chance

verb · CEFR C2 · Dialect · Informal

to spoil or ruin someone's chances of succeeding.

For teachers: to frustrate or ruin a person's prospects or chances of success.

- A sudden leg injury cruelled his hopes of winning the race.
- The scandal cruelled her chances of being elected to the board, despite her otherwise impeccable professional record.

Usage: Common in Australian and New Zealand English.

## Examples

- It is cruel to keep a large dog in a tiny apartment.
- The king was known for his cruel laws that punished even the smallest mistakes with heavy fines.
- The harsh winter proved to be a cruel blow to the farmers, who had already lost half of their livestock to disease earlier that year.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.