Synonyms for cruel

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1. Vicious

   malevolent, brutal, sadistic, inhuman, ruthless, spiteful, depraved, wicked, delighting in torture, vengeful, revengeful, evil, sinful, degenerate, disposed to inflict suffering, brutish, demoniac, outrageous, tyrannical, gross, swinish, evil-minded, rancorous, rough, wild, bestial, ferocious, bloodthirsty, savage, fierce, monstrous, barbarous, barbaric, maleficent, fell, ravening, fiendish, satanic, atrocious, truculent, demoniacal, debased, destructive, harmful, malignant, virulent, evilly disposed, pernicious, mischievous; see also sense 2, fierce 1, ruthless 2, savage 2.

   Antonyms kindly*, humane, tender.

2. Pitiless

   callous, unnatural, merciless, sadistic, unpitying, unmerciful, unyielding, obdurate, coldblooded, ruthless, remorseless, hardhearted, unfeeling, inflexible, inclement, indifferent to suffering, unrelenting, inexorable, relentless, unsparing, absolute, grim, grim-visaged, inhuman, severe, harsh, heartless, stony, stern, unconcerned, iron-handed, without pity, knowing no mercy, giving no quarter*, turning a deaf ear*, hard as nails*; see also ruthless 1.

   Antonyms merciful*, touched, compassionate.

cruel implies indifference to the suffering of others or a disposition to inflict it on others cruel fate; brutal implies ruthless force or savage cruelty that is altogether unfeeling a brutal prison guard; inhuman stresses the complete absence of those qualities expected of a civilized human being, such as compassion, mercy, or benevolence; pitiless implies a callous refusal to be moved or influenced by the suffering of those one has wronged; ruthless implies a cruel and relentless disregard for the rights or welfare of others, while in pursuit of a goal