cruelty

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

cruelty [cruelty cruelties] BrE [ˈkruːəlti] NAmE [ˈkruːəlti] noun (pl. cruelties)
1. uncountable ~ (to sb/sth) behaviour that causes pain or suffering to others, especially deliberately
•cruelty to animals
•The deliberate cruelty of his words cut her like a knife.
Opp: ↑kindness
2. countable, usually plural a cruel action
•Frightening cruelties were inflicted on child factory workers well into the 19th century.
3. countable, uncountable something that happens that seems unfair
•the cruelties of life

Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French crualte, based on Latin crudelitas, from crudelis, related to crudus ‘raw, rough’.

Example Bank:
•Her stepmother showed her nothing but cruelty.
•How can you inflict such cruelty on a child?
•She was shocked to see such cruelty.
•The children suffered mental cruelty and neglect.
•an act of extreme cruelty
•the depths of human cruelty

• Từ đồng nghĩa / Synonyms:
  cruelness, harshness, mercilessness, pitilessness, ruthlessness, inhuman treatment