Word.ws English Dictionary

Synonyms of cruel

65 similar words · 2 opposite words

Another word for cruel is fell. Other synonyms of cruel are inhuman, sadistic, malicious, ruthless and brutal. The opposite of cruel is merciful.

Synonyms and similar words for cruel

adjectiveIntentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless.

  • inhumanOf or pertaining to inhumanity and the indifferently cruel, sadistic or barbaric behavior it brings.
  • sadisticDelighting in or feeling pleasure from the pain or humiliation of others.
  • spitefulFilled with, or showing, spite; having a desire to annoy or harm.

adjectiveHarsh; severe.

  • brutalSavagely violent, vicious, ruthless, or cruel, often in an unintelligent manner.
  • callousEmotionally hardened; unfeeling and indifferent to the suffering/feelings of others.
  • strictSevere in discipline.
  • coldWithout compassion; heartless; ruthless.
  • insensate formalUnfeeling, heartless, cruel, insensitive.
  • hardhanded
  • cold-eyedThat looks coldly or dispassionately; having a fierce or aloof mein.
  • dour
  • thick-skinned
  • flint-heartedSynonym of hardhearted.
  • forbiddingAppearing to be threatening, unfriendly or potentially unpleasant.
  • frostyHaving an aloof or inhospitable manner.
  • grimDismal and gloomy, cold and forbidding.
  • hardSevere, harsh, unfriendly, brutal.
  • hard-boiledOf a person, especially a detective, callous and unsentimental.
  • hardenedUnfeeling; pitiless; callous.
  • hardheartedLacking in compassion; cold and pitiless.
  • heartlessWithout feeling, emotion, or concern for others; uncaring; cruel.
  • harshSevere or cruel.
  • humorlessLacking humor or levity; serious; not funny, amusing, amused, or lighthearted.
  • icyCharacterized by coldness of manner; frigid; cold.
  • iron-heartedSynonym of hardhearted.
  • insensitiveNot expressing normal emotional feelings; cold; tactless; undiplomatic.
  • marble-heartedEmotionally cold, cruel, and unfeeling.
  • rigorous
  • rockheartedSynonym of hardhearted.
  • severeStrict or harsh.
  • stern
  • stoneheartedSynonym of hardhearted.
  • stonyOf a person, lacking warmth and emotion.
  • stonyheartedCruel, compassionless, discompassionate, as if having a heart made of stone.
  • toughStrict, not lenient.
  • unsympatheticNot sympathetic; ill-disposed.
  • unmovedNot sympathetic; uncaring.

adjectiveMore synonyms

  • barbarousMercilessly or impudently violent or cruel, savage.
  • compassionlessWithout compassion; hardhearted.
  • flagitious formal
  • demonic figurativelyExtremely cruel or evil; abhorrent or repugnant; diabolical.
  • diabolic figurativelyWicked; evil; cruel.
  • diabolical figurativelyExtremely wicked or cruel.
  • fellOf a strong and cruel nature; eager and unsparing; grim; fierce; ruthless; savage.
  • incessiveFierce; cruel and aggressive.
  • inhumane
  • maliciousIntending to do harm; characterized by spite and malice.
  • mercilessShowing no mercy; cruel and pitiless.
  • nastySpiteful, unkind.
  • nonhumaneNot humane, inhumane.
  • pitilessHaving, or showing, no pity; merciless, ruthless.
  • remorselessWithout remorse, mercy or pity.
  • rottenCruel, mean or immoral.
  • ruthlessWithout pity or compassion; cruel, pitiless.
  • savageBrutal, vicious, or merciless.
  • truculentCruel or savage.
  • unbenevolentNot benevolent.
  • unbenignNot benign; malevolent.
  • unkindLacking kindness, sympathy, benevolence, gratitude, or similar; cruel, harsh or unjust; ungrateful.
  • unmercifulNot showing mercy.
  • unpityingNot feeling or showing pity.
  • bowelless obsoleteWithout pity.
  • despiteful archaicFull of despite; expressing malice or contemptuous hate.
  • inclement obsoleteMerciless, unrelenting.
  • unpitiful archaicWithout pity; pitiless.

Opposite of cruel

adjectiveIntentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless.

adjectiveMore antonyms

Meaning of cruel

  1. adjective Intentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless.
  2. adjective Harsh; severe.
  3. adjective Cool; awesome; neat.

Full definition of cruel

cruel in other languages

Questions about synonyms of cruel

What is another word for cruel?
Cruel has 65 synonyms on Word.ws, such as fell, inhuman, sadistic, malicious, ruthless, brutal, severe and spiteful.
What is the opposite of cruel?
The opposite of cruel is merciful.
What does cruel mean?
Cruel means intentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless.

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: cruel (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this page: “Synonyms of cruel.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/cruel. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.