[cru.el] adj cru.el.er or cru.el.ler ; cru.el.est or cru.el.lest [ME, fr. OF, fr. L crudelis, fr. crudus] (14c) 1: disposed to inflict pain or suffering: devoid of humane feelings
2. a: causing or conducive to injury, grief, or pain "a ~ joke" b: unrelieved by leniency syn see fierce -- cru.el.ly adv -- cru.el.ness n