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cruel

Pronunciation: /ˈkɹuːəl/

The English word “cruel” has 6 meanings listed here.

adjective

  1. Intentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless.
  2. Harsh; severe.
  3. Cool; awesome; neat.

adverb

  1. To a great degree; terribly.

verb

  1. To spoil or ruin (one's chance of success)
  2. To violently provoke (a child) in the belief that this will make them more assertive.

Etymology

From Middle English cruel, borrowed from Old French cruel, from Latin crūdēlis (“hard, severe, cruel”), akin to crūdus (“raw, crude”); see crude.

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