cruel

kroo-EL/kɾuˈel/

“cruel” means “cruel” in Spanish (describing a person or action).

cruel, harsh

Also: merciless, brutal

Adjectivem/f (invariable)B1

A brightly colored storybook illustration of a person's foot intentionally kicking over and destroying a detailed sandcastle on a sunny beach.

📝 In Action

El dictador era conocido por sus métodos crueles.

The dictator was known for his cruel methods.

La vida a veces puede ser muy cruel e injusta.

Life can sometimes be very harsh and unfair.

Fue un comentario cruel que hirió sus sentimientos.

It was a cruel comment that hurt her feelings.

Word Connections

Synonyms

despiadado (merciless)
inhumano (inhuman)

Antonyms

bondadoso (kind)
amable (friendly)

Common Collocations

ser cruel con alguien – to be cruel to someone
un destino cruel – a cruel fate

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "cruel" in Spanish:

brutal→cruel→harsh→merciless→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: cruel

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the adjective 'cruel'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

la crueldad(cruelty) — Noun

cruelmente(cruelly) — Adverb

🎵 Rhymes▼

fiel papel

📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the Latin word *crudēlis*, which meant 'unfeeling' or 'harsh.' Its meaning and spelling have remained very stable over time.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: cruelPortuguese: cruel

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'cruel' ever change its form?

Yes, but only for number, not gender. It is singular ('cruel') for one thing, and plural ('crueles') for two or more things. It never changes to 'cruela' or 'cruelo'.