I. ˈkrü]əl, -u̇]əl also -ü]l, esp Brit ](ˌ)il adjective
( crueler or crueller ; cruelest or cruellest )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin crudelis, irregular from crudus raw — more at raw
1.
a. : disposed to inflict pain especially in a wanton, insensate, or vindictive manner : pleased by hurting others : sadistic : devoid of kindness
b. : rapacious , ravening : given to killing and mangling or to tormenting prey
c. : arising from or indicative of an inclination to enjoy another's pain or misfortune
cruel epigrams
cruel slanders
2.
a. : bitterly conducted : devoid of mildness : causing or conducive to injury, grief, or pain
a cruel struggle for existence
b. : stern, rigorous, and grim : unrelieved by leniency or softness
a monastic regula stern and cruel
c. : bitterly ironical
3. : severe , distressing : extremely painful : extreme
Synonyms: see fierce
II. adverb
now dialect : cruelly , extremely
a cruel hard job
III. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
slang Australia : to destroy all chance of success : spoil
that crueled the experiment