Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

cruel mistress

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.67 in modern English

Syllables: cru-el mistress
IPA

17

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

2

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Something which has both significant positive and negative aspects.

Example Sentences

"For bandleaders, society can be a cruel mistress. At debutante parties they receive compliments but not calling cards, at charity balls they take their breaks with their players instead of their patrons […]"
"Even if you can’t afford a new one, the cruel mistress of depreciation will soon have her way with the Stinger and that’s very good news."

Etymology

From cruel + mistress

Inflected Forms

cruel mistresses (plural)

Phrases

cut both ways

Frequently Paired Words

cut both ways

Synonyms

fickle mistress harsh mistress

Questions

What does cruel mistress mean?: Something which has both significant positive and negative aspects.
Where does cruel mistress come from?: From cruel + mistress

How to pronounce cruel mistress

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “cruel mistress”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “cruel mistress”.
Repeat and practice — Say “cruel mistress” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.