Cruelty Definition

kro͝oəl-tē
cruelties
noun
cruelties
The quality or condition of being cruel; inhumanity; hardheartedness.
Webster's New World
A cruel action, remark, etc.
Webster's New World
Willful infliction of physical pain or suffering upon a person or animal, or of mental distress upon a person.
Webster's New World

As a ground for divorce, the intentional and malicious infliction of physical or psychological abuse by a married person upon his or her spouse that endangers or severely impairs the spouse’s life or physical or mental well-being or creates a reasonable apprehension in the spouse’s mind of physical or mental harm. The extent of abuse that a spouse is expected to tolerate varies state to state, but a single act of cruelty is normally not enough to constitute grounds for divorce. See also abuse.

Webster's New World Law

Other Word Forms of Cruelty

Noun

Singular:
cruelty
Plural:
cruelties

Origin of Cruelty

  • From Old French crualté (French cruauté).

    From Wiktionary

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