1. causing pain or suffering to others without feeling concern about it
2. causing severe pain, suffering, or distress

Examples

• The cruel dictator showed no mercy to his enemies.
• It would be cruel to keep the injured animal in pain.
• She made a cruel comment about his appearance.
• The cruel winter destroyed many crops.
• His cruel treatment of the workers led to a strike.
• The cruel irony was that he lost his job the day before retirement.
• Don’t be cruel to animals.