cruel

modif.

1. Vicious

   malevolent, brutal, sadistic, inhuman, ruthless, spiteful, depraved, wicked, delighting in torture, vengeful, revengeful, evil, sinful, degenerate, disposed to inflict suffering, brutish, demoniac, outrageous, tyrannical, gross, swinish, evil-minded, rancorous, rough, wild, bestial, ferocious, bloodthirsty, savage, fierce, monstrous, barbarous, barbaric, maleficent, fell, ravening, fiendish, satanic, atrocious, truculent, demoniacal, debased, destructive, harmful, malignant, virulent, evilly disposed, pernicious, mischievous; see also sense 2, fierce 1, ruthless 2, savage 2.

   Antonyms kindly*, humane*, tender. *

2. Pitiless

   callous, unnatural, merciless, sadistic, unpitying, unmerciful, unyielding, obdurate, coldblooded, ruthless, remorseless, hardhearted, unfeeling, inflexible, inclement, indifferent to suffering, unrelenting, inexorable, relentless, unsparing, absolute, grim, grim-visaged, inhuman, severe, harsh, heartless, stony, stern, unconcerned, iron-handed, without pity, knowing no mercy, giving no quarter*, turning a deaf ear*, hard as nails*; see also ruthless 1.

   Antonyms merciful*, touched*, compassionate.

cruel implies indifference to the suffering of others or a disposition to inflict it on others cruel fate; brutal implies ruthless force or savage cruelty that is altogether unfeeling a brutal prison guard; inhuman stresses the complete absence of those qualities expected of a civilized human being, such as compassion, mercy, or benevolence; pitiless implies a callous refusal to be moved or influenced by the suffering of those one has wronged; ruthless implies a cruel and relentless disregard for the rights or welfare of others, while in pursuit of a goal