Cruel | Mean of cruel in English Dictionary

/ˈkruːl/

• causing or helping to cause suffering
1. a cruel joke
2. It was a very cruel [=hurtful] thing to say.
3. I thought it was rather cruel [=unkind] of them to give her all the dirty work.
4. a cruel twist of fate
5. Hunger is a cruel fact of nature.
6. Life has dealt them some cruel blows in recent years. [=some very bad things have happened to them in recent years]
7. The law forbids cruel and unusual punishment. [=punishment that is very harsh and inappropriate for the crime]