CRUEL, adjective [Latin See Crude and Rude.] 1. Disposed to give pain to others, in body or mind; willing or pleased to torment, vex or afflict; inhuman; destitute of pity, compassion or kindness; fierce; ferocious; savage; barbarous; hardhearted; applied to persons or their dispositions. They are cruel and have no mercy. Jeremiah 6:23. 2. Inhuman; barbarous; savage; causing pain, grief or distress; exerted in tormenting, vexing or afflicting. Cursed be their wrath, for it was cruel Genesis 44:1. The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel Proverbs 12:10. Others had trials of cruel mockings. Hebrews 11:36.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI