cruel

cruel

Qui aime faire souffrir les autres ou ne se soucie pas de leur douleur.

En anglais simple : A person who enjoys hurting others or does not care about their pain.

• The king was cruel.
• Her cruel uncle often made her cry.
• Why are some people so cruel to animals?

Comment l'utiliser : cruel to someone/something (He was cruel to the animals.)

Synonymes : unkind, heartless, merciless

Contraires : kind, compassionate

Expressions courantes : cruel person, cruel to someone, cruel master, cruel ruler

cruel, inhumain

Qualifie un acte qui fait souffrir sans se soucier de la douleur causée.

En anglais simple : An action that causes pain or suffering without caring about the person or animal affected.

• That was a cruel joke.
• His cruel words upset her.
• It was cruel to punish the whole class.

Comment l'utiliser : it is cruel to do something (It is cruel to leave a dog without water.)

Synonymes : unkind, heartless, inhumane

Contraires : kind, humane

Expressions courantes : cruel joke, cruel punishment, cruel treatment

rude, rigoureux

Qualifie des conditions très difficiles qui causent beaucoup de souffrance.

En anglais simple : Extremely harsh or difficult, causing great suffering.

• It was a cruel winter.
• The news came as a cruel blow.
• A cruel wind swept across the empty fields.

Synonymes : harsh, severe, bitter

Contraires : gentle, mild

Expressions courantes : cruel winter, cruel fate, cruel blow