Cruel vs. Ruthless

Cruel vs. Ruthless — Is There a Difference?
ADVERTISEMENT

Difference Between Cruel and Ruthless

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.

Ruthlessadjective

Without pity or compassion; cruel, pitiless.

Crueladjective

Harsh; severe.

Ruthlessadjective

without mercy or pity;

an act of ruthless ferocitya monster of remorseless cruelty

Crueladjective

(slang) Cool; awesome; neat.

Crueladverb

(nonstandard) To a great degree; terribly.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cruelverb

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

Cruelverb

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

Crueladjective

lacking or showing kindness or compassion or mercy

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
ADVERTISEMENT