Definitions for cruelty
ˈkru əl ticru·el·ty

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. cruelty, inhuman treatment(noun)

   a cruel act; a deliberate infliction of pain and suffering

2. cruelty, mercilessness, pitilessness, ruthlessness(noun)

   feelings of extreme heartlessness

3. cruelty, cruelness, harshness(noun)

   the quality of being cruel and causing tension or annoyance

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. cruelty(Noun)

   an indifference to suffering or positive pleasure in inflicting suffering.

2. cruelty(Noun)

   a cruel act

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

1. Cruelty(noun)

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

2. Cruelty(noun)

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

Origin: [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."

Anagrams for cruelty »

1. Cutlery

How to pronounce cruelty?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

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. Lucius Annaeus Seneca:

   All cruelty springs from weakness.

2. Phaedrus:

   Gentleness is the antidote for cruelty.

3. Dr. Anthony Daniels, The Observer (1998):

   Cruelty is like hope: it springs eternal.

4. John Bunyan:

   Hanging is too good for him said Mr. Cruelty.

5. This President:

   The cruelty of this administration never seems to end.

Images & Illustrations of cruelty

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