Definitions for cruelty
ˈkru əl ticru·el·ty

Princeton's WordNet(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. cruelty, inhuman treatmentnoun

   a cruel act; a deliberate infliction of pain and suffering

2. cruelty, mercilessness, pitilessness, ruthlessnessnoun

   feelings of extreme heartlessness

3. cruelty, cruelness, harshnessnoun

   the quality of being cruel and causing tension or annoyance

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. crueltynoun

   an indifference to suffering or positive pleasure in inflicting suffering.

2. crueltynoun

   a cruel act

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Crueltynoun

   Inhumanity; savageness; barbarity.

   Etymology: cruauté, French.

   The cruelty and envy of the people,
   Permitted by our dastard nobles,
   Have suffer’d me by the voice of slaves to be
   Whoop’d out of Rome. William Shakespeare, Coriolanus.

   There were great changes in the world by the revolutions of empire, the cruelties of conquering, and the calamities of enslaved nations. William Temple.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Crueltynoun

   the attribute or quality of being cruel; a disposition to give unnecessary pain or suffering to others; inhumanity; barbarity

2. Crueltynoun

   a cruel and barbarous deed; inhuman treatment; the act of willfully causing unnecessary pain

3. Etymology: [OF. cruelt, F. cruaut, fr. L. crudelitas, fr. crudelis. See Cruel.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Cruelty

   Cruelty is indifference to suffering, and even pleasure in inflicting it. Sadism can also be related to this form of action or concept. Cruel ways of inflicting suffering may involve violence, but affirmative violence is not necessary for an act to be cruel. For example, if a person is drowning and begging for help, and another person is able to help, but merely watches with disinterest or perhaps mischievous amusement, that person is being cruel — rather than violent. George Eliot stated that "cruelty, like every other vice, requires no motive outside of itself; it only requires opportunity." Bertrand Russell stated that "the infliction of cruelty with a good conscience is a delight to moralists. That is why they invented Hell." Gilbert K. Chesterton stated that "cruelty is, perhaps, the worst kind of sin. Intellectual cruelty is certainly the worst kind of cruelty."

Matched Categories

1. • Heartlessness
   • Malevolence
   • Maltreatment

Anagrams for cruelty »

1. Cutlery

How to pronounce cruelty?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say cruelty in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of cruelty in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of cruelty in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of cruelty in a Sentence

1. Felix Frankfurter:

   Fragile as reason is and limited as law is as the institutionalised medium of reason, that's all we have between us and the tyranny of mere will and the cruelty of unbridled, undisciplined feelings.

2. EMEASOBA GEORGE:

   Every issue or matter has an option or rather you do have an option. Yes! you heard me right. You can choose either life or death, hard work or laziness, success or failure, riches or poverty, excellence or mediocrity, grace or disgrace, forgiveness or unforgivingness, righteousness or unrighteousness, covetousness or contentedness, morality or immorality, patience or impatience, fame or obscurity, peace or war, wisdom or foolishness, strength or weakness, knowledge or ignorance, understanding or misunderstanding, respect or disrespect, literacy or illiteracy, kindness or unkindness, unity or disunity, hopefulness or hopelessness, construction or destruction, salvation or damnation, encouragement or discouragement, greatness or commonness, fastness or dullness, hell or heaven, light or darkness, God or Satan, increase or decrease, appreciation or depreciation, gratitude or ingratitude, humility or pride, loyalty or disloyalty, gentleness or ungentleness, love or hatred, faithfulness or unfaithfulness, generosity or stinginess, fidelity or infidelity, honesty or dishonesty, courage or cowardice, happiness or unhappiness, compassion or cruelty, Godliness or ungodliness, justice or injustice. However, all of the above illustrations evidently shows that, you have the willpower to choose either the positive or the negative aspect of every issue or matter in life. As well, the world is in your oyster. That is to say, you are in a position to choose or enjoy a broad range of opportunities or options. But, I urge you as usual. Dare to choose the positive aspect of everything rather than the negative aspect of it. Even if/when you are in dilemma. ~Emeasoba George

3. Samuel Johnson:

   Such is the common process of marriage. A youth and maiden exchange meeting by chance, or brought together by artifice, exchange glances, reciprocate civilities, go home, and dream of one another. Having little to divert attention, or diversify thought, they find themselves uneasy when they are apart, and therefore conclude that they shall be happy together. They marry, and discover what nothing but voluntary blindness had before concealed they wear out life in altercations, and charge nature with cruelty.

4. Ehsan Sehgal:

   For a timely sweet and beautiful; however, permanently, the life-sucking virus, and cruelty which factually, lineage and design the ways for the interest on money that, one borrows and loans from banks, and whatever such other gambling establishments. Indeed, each one is a slave, victim, and even a prisoner of banking interest accordingly; thus, only the bankers hold the global ownership and public breathes in a rental life with tax.

5. Ehsan Sehgal:

   Our silence on injustice, cruelty, violation, atrocities and ruthless killing actions describe the evil has controlled our heart and mind. Let's only pray for the reborn of the real leader of justice.

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