► crueldeliberately upsetting or hurting people or animals: Killing animals just for their skins seems cruel. He was the victim of a cruel joke.
► vicious very cruel and violent, and intended to hurt someone: The old man was beaten and kicked in a vicious attack.
► brutal very cruel and violent, in a way that shows no human feelings: The police are investigating a series of brutal murders.
► abusive formal saying cruel things or using physical violence: She finally left her abusive alcoholic husband.
► heartless very unkind and not caring at all about other people’s feelings: It was heartless to deny the children medical treatment.
► inhumane formal very cruel and causing more suffering than is acceptable: Stalin was one of the most inhumane dictators in history.
► ruthless so determined to get what you want that you do not care if you have to hurt other people in order to do it: These men are ruthless terrorists and will kill anyone who tries to stop them.