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cruelty

Pronunciation: /ˈkrʊəlti/

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Definition of cruelty

noun (plural cruelties)

[mass noun]

cruel behaviour or attitudes:he has treated her with extreme cruelty we can’t stand cruelty to animals [count noun]:the cruelties of forced assimilation and genocide
Law behaviour which causes physical or mental harm to another, especially a spouse, whether intentionally or not: she divorced my stepfather for persistent cruelty