Meaning & use
Cruelest
Last updated
Superlative form of "cruel," describing the one causing the greatest pain or suffering, or showing the least mercy, among a group.
See it in a sentence
April is often called the cruelest month in T.S. Eliot's famous poem.
Losing the championship in the final second was the cruelest twist of the season.
A note on using this word
"Cruellest" (with a double L) is the standard British spelling, while "cruelest" is preferred in American English.
Words with a similar meaning
harshestmost brutalmost ruthless
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
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