(~ler, ~lest)
Note: in AM, use '~er', '~est'
1.
Someone who is ~ deliberately causes pain or distress to people or animals.
Children can be so ~...
Don’t you think it’s ~ to cage a creature up?
? kind
ADJ: oft it v-link ADJ to-inf
~ly
Douglas was often ~ly tormented by jealous siblings.
ADV: ADV with v
2.
A situation or event that is ~ is very harsh and causes people distress.
...struggling to survive in a ~ world with which they cannot cope...
ADJ
~ly
His life has been ~ly shattered by an event not of his own making.
ADV: usu ADV with v