cruelty

Everyday

1. Cruelty is behaviour that causes pain or suffering to people or animals on purpose, or without caring. tree →
2. A cruelty is a cruel action. tree →

In the lessons

In lessons about kindness and animal care, cruelty is always wrong, and there are laws against cruelty to animals. In stories and history, cruelty describes villains and unfair rulers. Bullying is a kind of cruelty; tell a trusted adult. Phrases: cruelty to animals, act of cruelty, cruelty-free.

Examples

• Cruelty to animals is against the law. tree →
• The king was famous for his cruelty. tree →
• Bullying is a form of cruelty. tree →
• Shampoo labelled «cruelty-free» was not tested on animals. tree →
• The story shows the cruelty of war. tree →
• She could not believe the cruelty of his words. tree →
• Kindness is the opposite of cruelty. tree →
• “Oh! my dear daughter,” he cried, kissing her, “can you ever forget my cruelty? tree →

Note

Mostly uncountable (cruelty to animals); countable for single acts (the cruelties of war). Adjective: cruel; adverb: cruelly. Spelt «cruelty», not «crualty».