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cruelty

Syllabification: (cru·el·ty)

Definition of cruelty

callous indifference to or pleasure in causing pain and suffering:he has treated her with extreme cruelty
behavior that causes pain or suffering to a person or animal:we can’t stand cruelty to animals the cruelties of forced assimilation and genocide
Law behavior that causes physical or mental harm to another, especially a spouse, whether intentionally or not.

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French crualte, based on Latin crudelitas, from crudelis (see cruel)

Definition of cruelty in the British & World English dictionary

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