CRUELTY

[noun]His former wife accused him of beatings, verbal abuse and other cruelties. [C]The farmer was accused of cruelty to animals. [U]The effects of mental cruelty (= unkind words and behaviour) can be worse than those of physical violence. [U](UK) Cruelty-free products are developed without being tested on animals.I always try to buy cruelty-free cosmetics.