cruel

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

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

   The supervisor was very cruel to Josh, as he would always give Josh the hardest, most degrading work he could find.

2. 2
   adj

   Harsh; severe.

   We're certainly having quite a cruel winter this year.

3. 3
   adv

   To a great degree; terribly.

   "But I've served 'im ten years, and I'm fond of 'im, and, mind you, 'e's a great man, when all's said an' done, and it's an honor to serve 'im. But 'e does try one cruel at times."

4. 4
   verb

   To spoil or ruin (one's chance of success)

   What cruelled him was that Imperial Hotel contract.

5. 5
   verb

   To violently provoke (a child) in the belief that this will make them more assertive.

   Violence is apparently introduced early by the practice of "cruelling": children even in their first months are physically punished and then encouraged to seek retribution by punishing the punisher.

6. 6
   adj

   (of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

7. 7
   adj

   Cool; awesome; neat.

8. 8
   noun

   Alternative form of crewel.

Etymology

From Middle English cruel, borrowed from Old French cruel, from Latin crūdēlis (“hard, severe, cruel”), akin to crūdus (“raw, crude”); see crude.