Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

cruelty

 noun
     
cru‧el‧ty plural cruelties
1 [uncountable and countable] behaviour or actions that deliberately cause pain to people or animals [≠ kindness]:
The children had suffered cruelty and neglect.
There was a hint of cruelty in Brian's smile.
cruelty to
cruelty to animals
cruelty of
the cruelty of the slave trade
The deliberate cruelty of his words cut her like a knife.
the cruelties of war
2 [uncountable] the unfairness of something that happens:
the cruelty of life
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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