How do you pronounce cruel?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkɹuːəl/.

Where does cruel come from?

It is traced to Middle English.

cruel

/ˈkɹuːəl/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.12 in modern English

Syllables: cru-el
IPA: /ˈkɹuːəl/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Intentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless.

adj

Harsh; severe.

adj

Cool; awesome; neat.

Slang

adv

To a great degree; terribly.

verb

To spoil or ruin (one's chance of success)

Australian usage; New Zealand usage

verb

To violently provoke (a child) in the belief that this will make them more assertive.

Australian usage

noun

Alternative form of crewel.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"The supervisor was very cruel to Josh, as he would always give Josh the hardest, most degrading work he could find."
"We're certainly having quite a cruel winter this year."
"The thought that something might befall him that would leave her entirely at the mercy of this beast caused him greater anxiety than the probability that almost certain death awaited her should she be left entirely alone upon the outskirts of the cruel forest."
"You may be sure they watched the cliffs on their left eagerly for any sign of a break or any place where they could climb them; but those cliffs remained cruel."
"He was physically the toughest of us and wore five layers of polar clothing, but the cold was cruel and wore us down hour after hour."
""But I've served 'im ten years, and I'm fond of 'im, and, mind you, 'e's a great man, when all's said an' done, and it's an honor to serve 'im. But 'e does try one cruel at times.""

Etymology

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

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: *krewh₂-, cruel, crūdēlis

Usage

Inflected Forms

crueler (comparative) crueller (comparative) more cruel (comparative) cruelest (superlative) cruellest (superlative) most cruel (superlative) cruell (alternative, obsolete) cruels (present, singular) crueling (US, participle) cruelling (UK, participle) crueled (US, participle) crueled (US, past)

Derived Forms

cruelize cruelly cruelness cruelsome overcruel uncruel

Phrases

be cruel to be kind cruel-hearted cruel mistress goodbye, cruel world over-cruel ill-disposed ill-intentioned ill-natured

Frequently Paired Words

crude cruelty ill-disposed ill-intentioned ill-natured stern

Synonyms

inhuman sadistic spiteful brutal callous strict cold insensate hardhanded cold-eyed cruel dour

Homonyms

crewel

Antonyms

merciful kindly

Rhymes With

fuel dual renewal jewel duel newell sewell refuel buell accrual ewell juul