Synonyms of cruel

cruel

adjective

ˈkrü(-ə)l 

1

as in brutal

having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others

a cruel dictator who tortured anyone who dared to speak out against him

cruel and unusual punishments are forbidden by the U.S. Constitution

Synonyms & Similar Words

• brutal
• vicious
• savage
• ruthless
• sadistic
• inhumane
• merciless
• heartless
• barbaric
• inhuman
• barbarous
• murderous
• brute
• ferocious
• oppressive
• atrocious
• harsh
• fiendish
• truculent
• hateful
• malicious
• pitiless
• butcherly
• wanton
• unfeeling
• red in tooth and claw
• grim
• bloodthirsty
• vindictive
• fell
• spiteful
• malignant
• hard-hearted
• malevolent
• sanguinary
• cutthroat
• draconian
• malign
• sanguine
• nasty
• mean
• ironhearted
• stonyhearted
• despiteful
• catty
• heavy-handed
• draconic
• hardhanded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sympathetic
• benign
• kind
• humane
• compassionate
• warm
• merciful
• kindhearted
• charitable
• lenient
• benignant
• tender
• good-hearted
• tenderhearted
• pitying
• peaceful
• warmhearted
• peaceable
• pacific
• clement

2

as in harsh

difficult to endure

the cruel climate of the Arctic

Synonyms & Similar Words

• harsh
• tough
• oppressive
• brutal
• searing
• hard
• severe
• rough
• grim
• inhuman
• trying
• murderous
• painful
• burdensome
• bitter
• onerous
• heavy
• bleak
• grievous
• excruciating
• rugged
• stiff
• uncomfortable
• unbearable
• unpleasant
• strict
• inhospitable
• bad
• hardhanded
• forbidding
• rigorous
• austere
• discomforting
• overwhelming
• intemperate
• stringent
• inclement
• biting
• spartan
• comfortless
• agonizing
• intolerable
• crushing
• wild
• wretched
• heartbreaking
• hostile
• tortuous
• insufferable
• unendurable
• disagreeable
• insupportable
• harrowing
• unfriendly
• heartrending
• grinding
• wearing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easy
• light
• soft
• comfortable
• pleasant
• friendly
• luxurious
• agreeable
• hospitable
• cozy
• genial
• peaceful
• gentle
• mild
• tolerable
• restful
• relaxing
• moderate
• bearable
• painless
• snug
• calm
• temperate
• endurable
• balmy
• reposeful
• clement

3

as in painful

hard to accept or bear especially emotionally

the cruel situation of being orphaned at an early age

Synonyms & Similar Words

• painful
• harsh
• torturous
• horrible
• hurtful
• terrible
• bitter
• agonizing
• unacceptable
• severe
• harrowing
• excruciating
• grievous
• awful
• galling
• unbearable
• tormenting
• dreadful
• intolerable
• bad
• heartrending
• miserable
• vile
• insufferable
• unendurable
• afflicting
• appalling
• insupportable
• dire
• extreme
• ghastly
• nasty
• intense
• wretched
• unsupportable
• acute
• rotten
• piercing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sweet
• gratifying
• pleasing
• tolerable
• bearable
• sustainable
• endurable
• acceptable
• supportable
• reasonable
• survivable
• allowable
• livable
• sufferable

4

as in malicious

having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it

the bully was fond of making cruel little jabs at his victim's sore points

Synonyms & Similar Words

• malicious
• vicious
• hateful
• nasty
• bad
• spiteful
• malevolent
• malignant
• despiteful
• virulent
• bitchy
• harsh
• bitter
• malign
• jealous
• venomous
• poisonous
• catty
• mean
• evil
• obnoxious
• vindictive
• unkind
• hostile
• devious
• contemptuous
• envious
• resentful
• derogatory
• acrimonious
• unloving
• scornful
• vitriolic
• disdainful
• snakelike
• scurvy
• snide
• opprobrious
• disparaging
• unkindly
• baneful
• snotty
• rancorous
• mean-spirited
• jaundiced
• caustic
• inimical
• deprecating
• scoundrelly
• baleful
• scathing
• acrid

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• benign
• benevolent
• loving
• good
• sympathetic
• kind
• warm
• compassionate
• pleasant
• friendly
• kindly
• nice
• agreeable
• amiable
• gracious
• sweet
• benignant
• genial
• affectionate
• affable
• cordial
• unmalicious
• kindhearted
• humane
• amorous
• warmhearted
• good-hearted
• tender
• noble
• altruistic
• magnanimous
• humanitarian
• philanthropic
• tenderhearted
• high-minded

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cruel different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of cruel are barbarous, ferocious, fierce, and savage. While all these words mean "showing fury or malignity in looks or actions," cruel implies indifference to suffering and even positive pleasure in inflicting it.

the cruel jokes of schoolboys

When is barbarous a more appropriate choice than cruel?

The synonyms barbarous and cruel are sometimes interchangeable, but barbarous implies a ferocity or mercilessness regarded as unworthy of civilized people.

barbarous treatment of prisoners

When is it sensible to use ferocious instead of cruel?

While the synonyms ferocious and cruel are close in meaning, ferocious implies extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality.

a ferocious dog

When could fierce be used to replace cruel?

The meanings of fierce and cruel largely overlap; however, fierce applies to humans and animals that inspire terror because of their wild and menacing aspect or fury in attack.

fierce warriors

In what contexts can savage take the place of cruel?

Although the words savage and cruel have much in common, savage implies the absence of inhibitions restraining civilized people filled with rage, lust, or other violent passion.

a savage criminal

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of cruel

Pancreatic cancer is an exquisitely cruel diagnosis, leaving only 13 percent of people alive after five years. —Carolyn Y. Johnson, Washington Post, 24 May 2026

But fate, cruel and sudden, had other ideas. —Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026

The cruel cartoon of a constantly shrewish, venal, and disloyal Mary began cementing itself in the public mind when William Herndon, Lincoln’s Springfield law partner, started lecturing about his reminiscences within months of the President’s murder. —Literary Hub, 21 May 2026

There’s something so cruel about that. —Marah Eakin, Vulture, 20 May 2026