Adjective
IPA: /ˈkruː.əl/ or /ˈkruːl/
US: "kroo-uhl", UK: "krool"
From Old French "cruel", from Latin "crudelis" meaning "ruthless, harsh".
Ruthless, merciless, harsh, brutal, callous.
Kind, compassionate, gentle, benevolent.
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Cruel | Kroo-el |
| French | Cruel | Kroo-el |
| German | Grausam | Grouw-zahm |
| Russian | жестокий | Zhes-to-kee |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 残酷的 | Cánkù de |
| Japanese | 残酷な | Zankokuna |
| Hindi | क्रूर | Kroor |
| Arabic | قاسي | Qaasi |
| Portuguese | Cruel | Kroo-el |
| Italian | Crudele | Kroo-de-le |
| Korean | 잔인한 | Jan-in-han |
| Turkish | Zalim | Za-leem |
| Swedish | Gr cruel | Grah-ooh-sam |
The term 'cruel' was widely used in medieval texts to describe merciless rulers and harsh conditions.
In different cultures, the term 'cruel' may have varying implications. In some traditions, discipline may be seen as strict rather than cruel.
The word 'cruel' has been extensively used in literature, including Shakespearean plays and religious texts, often to describe unkind or oppressive figures.