B2nounsocietycrime
US/ˈkruː.əl.ti/
UK/ˈkruː.əl.ti/
behavior that causes pain or suffering to people or animals on purpose
In context
The video of cruelty to stray dogs made many people angry.
She left her husband because of years of cruelty.
Children can show surprising cruelty to classmates who are different.
Words that go with cruelty
noun + noun
- animal crueltyThe farm owner was fined for animal cruelty.
noun + preposition
- cruelty toCruelty to animals is a crime in many countries.
- act of crueltyIt was a shocking act of cruelty.
adjective + noun
- mental crueltyConstant insults can be a form of mental cruelty.
- deliberate crueltyThe court found that the owner had treated the dogs with deliberate cruelty.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
cruelty with animalsCorrect: cruelty to animals