adj. & v.
adj. (crueller, cruellest or crueler, cruelest) 1 indifferent to or gratified by another's suffering. 2 causing pain or suffering, esp. deliberately.
v.tr. (cruelled, cruelling) Austral. sl. thwart, spoil. cruelly adv. cruelness n.
[ ME f. OF f. L crudelis, rel. to crudus (as CRUDE) ]