Brutal vs. Cruel

Brutal vs. Cruel — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Brutal and Cruel

Brutaladjective

Savagely violent, vicious, ruthless, or cruel

Crueladjective

Intentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless.

The supervisor was very cruel to Josh, as he would always give Josh the hardest, most degrading work he could find.

Brutaladjective

Crude or unfeeling in manner or speech.

Crueladjective

Harsh; severe.

Brutaladjective

Harsh; unrelenting

Crueladjective

(slang) Cool; awesome; neat.

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Brutaladjective

Disagreeably precise or penetrating

Crueladverb

(nonstandard) To a great degree; terribly.

Brutaladjective

In extreme metal, to describe the speed of the music and the density of riffs.

Cruelverb

To spoil or ruin (one's chance of success)

Brutaladjective

(of weapons or instruments) causing suffering and pain;

brutal instruments of torturecruel weapons of war

Cruelverb

To violently provoke (a child) in the belief that this will make them more assertive.

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Brutaladjective

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering;

a barbarous crimebrutal beatingscruel torturesStalin's roughshod treatment of the kulaksa savage slapvicious kicks

Crueladjective

lacking or showing kindness or compassion or mercy

Brutaladjective

used of circumstances (especially weather) that cause suffering;

brutal weathernorthern winters can be cruela cruel worlda harsh climatea rigorous climateunkind winters

Crueladjective

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering;

a barbarous crimebrutal beatingscruel torturesStalin's roughshod treatment of the kulaksa savage slapvicious kicks

Crueladjective

(of weapons or instruments) causing suffering and pain;

brutal instruments of torturecruel weapons of war

Crueladjective

used of circumstances (especially weather) that cause suffering;

brutal weathernorthern winters can be cruela cruel worlda harsh climatea rigorous climateunkind winters