cruel
adjective
willfully or knowingly causing pain or distress to others.
cruelest
-
superlativeof cruel.superlative
The form of an adjective or adverb indicating the greatest degree of a quality.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Tennis is the cruelest game for a variety of reasons, Mr. Futterman contends.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
But at the same time, even under the cruelest dictatorships, it has still managed to produce fine literature.
From Barron's ● May 21, 2026
Some Wall Street analysts are insisting that April — contrary to its label as the cruelest month — is actually one of the better months for the U.S. stock market.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 1, 2026
Yet none found the back of the net, leaving the game to be decided on penalties, the cruelest, meanest, most unfair — and most exciting — way to determine a winner.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2025
This felt like the cruelest thing she’d ever done, killing Natalie’s hope.
From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
