1. behavior that causes pain or suffering to others and shows no compassion
2. a cruel act or remark

Examples

• The cruelty of the dictator shocked the world.
• Animal cruelty is against the law in most countries.
• She couldn’t understand the cruelty of his words.
• The children were rescued from a life of cruelty and neglect.
• His cruelty toward his employees made him very unpopular.
• The novel exposed the cruelties of slavery.
• There was no excuse for such cruelty to innocent people.