Cruel

/kɹuː(ə)l/

Last Updated: January 2, 2026 at 12:30 PM

Scrabble:7 ptsWWF:10 pts5 letters

Definition of Cruel

verb

To spoil or ruin (one's chance of success)
To violently provoke (a child) in the belief that this will make them more assertive.

adjective

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."
Harsh; severe.
Cool; awesome; neat.

adverb

To a great degree; terribly.

Anagrams of Cruel

Exact Anagrams

2 words using all 5 letters:

Words You Can Make

17 words can be made from the letters in "cruel":

5-LETTER WORDS

4-LETTER WORDS

clue cure curl ecru luce lure rule

3-LETTER WORDS

cel cru cue cur ecu leu rec rue

+1 Letter Anagrams

Words formed by adding one letter to "cruel" and rearranging:

+dcurdle curled

+slucres ulcers

+tcutler reluct

Related Word Patterns

CR...Words starting with "cr"...ELWords ending with "el"All 5-letter words Unscramble "cruel"

Synonyms & Antonyms

SYNONYMS

brutalsadistic

ANTONYMS

merciful

Rhyming Words

aasvogel aerogel aludel angel antechapel antinovel antiparallel antipersonnel apparel appel archangel ariel artel asphodel axel+5 more

Related Words

cabal cabby caber cabin cable cabob cacao cacas cache cacti caddy cades cadet cadge cadgy