—adj. (crueller, cruellest or crueler, cruelest)
1 indifferent to or gratified by another's suffering.
2 causing pain or suffering, esp. deliberately.
—v.tr. (cruelled, cruelling) Austral. sl. thwart, spoil.
Derivatives:
cruelly adv. cruelness n.
Etymology: ME f. OF f. L crudelis, rel. to crudus (as CRUDE)
Useful english dictionary. 2012.