cru ‧ el ‧ ty /ˈkruːəlti/ BrE AmE noun ( plural cruelties )
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ cruelty ; adverb : ↑ cruelly ; adjective : ↑ cruel ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] behaviour or actions that deliberately cause pain to people or animals OPP kindness :
The children had suffered cruelty and neglect.
There was a hint of cruelty in Brian’s smile.
cruelty to
cruelty to animals
cruelty of
the cruelty of the slave trade
The deliberate cruelty of his words cut her like a knife.
the cruelties of war
2 . [uncountable] the unfairness of something that happens:
the cruelty of life