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cruelly

  • a word derived from cruel.
    cruel
    adjective
    willfully or knowingly causing pain or distress to others.

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.

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New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, an avid soccer fan, said Balogun was "cruelly" issued a red card although he stayed mum on Trump's involvement.

From Barron's Jul. 6, 2026

Am I so cruelly esoteric that mainstream ideas of gayness do nothing for me?

From Salon Jun. 18, 2026

Giovanni tries desperately to renovate the room to make it a home for them, but David cruelly rejects his offering of a future together.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 10, 2026

For many cancer patients and their loved ones, it’s easier to expect the worst and hope for the best than it is to expect the best, only to be cruelly disappointed.

From Slate Mar. 29, 2026

Though the life she led was cruelly hard, she was more nearly content than she had ever been before.

From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry