cruelty

== English == === Alternative forms === cruellty, cruelltie (obsolete) === Etymology === From Middle English cruelte, from Old French crualté (French cruauté), from Latin crudelitas. By surface analysis, cruel +‎ -ty. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈkɹuː(.ə)lti/ (Standard Southern British) IPA(key): [ˈkɹʉwltɪj], [ˈkɹʊwltɪj] (US) IPA(key): /ˈkɹu(.ə)lti/ Hyphenation: cru‧el‧ty === Noun === cruelty (countable and uncountable, plural cruelties) (uncountable) An indifference to suffering or pleasure in inflicting suffering. Synonyms: mercilessness, barbarism, ruthlessness Antonyms: mercy, clemency (countable) A cruel act. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Anagrams === cutlery