Cruelty

Pronunciation: /kruːəlti/

Definitions of cruelty

noun Cruelty is a noun that refers to the quality or state of being cruel; the disposition to inflict suffering or harm on others.

Example Sentences

A1 Animal cruelty is never acceptable.

A2 The cruelty of the dictator towards his people knew no bounds.

B1 The novel explores the theme of human cruelty in times of war.

B2 The cruelty of the villain in the movie shocked the audience.

C1 The cruelty of the regime towards dissidents was well-documented.

C2 The cruelty of the prison guards towards the inmates was unbearable.

Examples of cruelty in a Sentence

formal The documentary shed light on the widespread cruelty towards animals in factory farms.

informal I can't stand people who show cruelty towards others, it's just wrong.

slang That guy is a real jerk, always dishing out cruelty to those around him.

figurative The cruelty of time never stops, constantly reminding us of our mortality.

Grammatical Forms of cruelty

• plural: cruelties
• comparative: crueler
• superlative: cruelest
• present tense: cruel
• future tense: will be cruel
• perfect tense: has been cruel
• continuous tense: is being cruel
• singular: cruelty
• positive degree: cruel
• infinitive: to be cruel
• gerund: cruelty
• participle: cruel

Origin and Evolution of cruelty

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'cruelty' originated from the Latin word 'crudelitas', which is derived from the Latin word 'crudelis' meaning 'ruthless' or 'harsh'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'cruelty' has evolved to encompass a broader range of meanings related to the infliction of pain or suffering on others, including intentional harm, indifference, and lack of mercy.