cruelly
gb/kɹˈuli/ us/kɹˈuli/
B2
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
adverb
B2
action
1
in a way that causes suffering
In a way that hurts someone a lot on purpose.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] is cruelly [verb-ed]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes use it for strong criticism in neutral contexts; it usually suggests real harm or lack of mercy.
Synonymes
brutally (Emphasizes violence and severity.)
|
mercilessly (Emphasizes lack of pity.)
|
savagely (Suggests wild, uncontrolled violence.)
Antonymes
humanely (In a way that minimizes suffering.)
|
kindly (With care and consideration rather than harm.)
|
gently (Without roughness or harshness.)
Collocations
cruelly beaten
|cruelly punished
|cruelly tortured
|cruelly murdered
|cruelly killed
|cruelly abused
|cruelly treated
|cruelly slaughtered
|cruelly exploited
|cruelly oppressed
Thèmes
violence
|law
|ethics
Exemples
- The prisoners were cruelly beaten during the interrogation.
- He described how the animals were cruelly treated on the farm.
- The regime cruelly punished anyone who spoke out.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The dog was cruelly treated.
- They punished him cruelly.
adverb
B2
action
2
in a deliberately hurtful way
In a mean way that hurts someone’s feelings.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] speaks/treats [someone] cruelly
Erreur fréquente :
Don’t confuse with 'rudely' (impolite); 'cruelly' suggests causing deep hurt, often on purpose.
Synonymes
meanly (More everyday and less intense.)
|
spitefully (Highlights a desire to hurt or get back at someone.)
|
callously (Emphasizes emotional coldness rather than active malice.)
Antonymes
compassionately (With sympathy and concern for feelings.)
|
considerately (With care not to upset or harm.)
|
kindly (Warm and caring in manner.)
Collocations
cruelly mocked
|cruelly teased
|cruelly ridiculed
|cruelly insulted
|cruelly rejected
|cruelly betrayed
|cruelly humiliated
|cruelly taunted
|cruelly criticized
|cruelly denied
Thèmes
relationships
|emotions
|communication
Exemples
- She cruelly mocked his accent in front of everyone.
- He was cruelly rejected when he asked to join the group.
- They laughed cruelly at her mistake.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Don’t speak cruelly to your friends.
- He laughed cruelly at her.
adverb
C1
property
3
in a painfully severe way
Extremely, in a way that feels painful or harsh.
Schéma d’usage :
cruelly + [adjective/adverb]
Erreur fréquente :
This use doesn’t always mean someone is being unkind; it can describe harsh conditions (e.g., 'cruelly cold').
Synonymes
bitterly (Common with cold or disappointment.)
|
painfully (Highlights discomfort rather than cruelty by a person.)
|
severely (More neutral and formal; less emotional.)
Antonymes
mildly (To a small, gentle degree.)
|
pleasantly (In a comfortable or enjoyable way.)
Collocations
cruelly cold
|cruelly bright
|cruelly hot
|cruelly hard
|cruelly difficult
|cruelly uncomfortable
|cruelly slow
|cruelly tight
|cruelly painful
|cruelly sharp
Thèmes
daily_life
|weather
|health
Exemples
- The wind was cruelly cold on the open hill.
- The stitches pulled cruelly whenever she moved.
- The spotlight was cruelly bright after the dark stage.
Exemples pédagogiques
- It is cruelly cold today.
- The shoes are cruelly tight.
adverb
C1
property
4
in a painfully unfair way
In a way that feels very unfair or sadly ironic.
Schéma d’usage :
cruelly + [adjective] (e.g., cruelly unfair/ironic)
Synonymes
tragically (Emphasizes sadness and loss.)
|
unfairly (More neutral; less emotional force.)
Antonymes
fairly (In a just, acceptable way.)
|
aptly (In a fitting way rather than an ironic or painful one.)
Collocations
cruelly unfair
|cruelly ironic
|cruelly unjust
|cruelly unfortunate
|cruelly denied
|cruelly deprived
|cruelly short
|cruelly timed
Thèmes
emotions
|society
Exemples
- It was cruelly unfair that she lost her job just before the holidays.
- Cruelly, the one day he felt well enough to go out, it rained nonstop.
- The results were cruelly ironic: the safety system caused the shutdown.
Exemples pédagogiques
- It feels cruelly unfair.
- That is cruelly ironic.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
cruelly
API
GB/kɹˈuli/
US/kɹˈuli/
Syllabes et accentuation
cruelly (1 syllabe)
Stress on 1st syllable (cruelly)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: cruelly
- Plural: cruellies
Famille de mots
Expressions
cruelly cold
1/kɹˈuli kˈoʊld/
fixed phrase
very cold in a harsh way
Extremely cold and unpleasant.
Exemples
- It was cruelly cold waiting for the bus at dawn.
- The air in the unheated room was cruelly cold.
- By nightfall, it turned cruelly cold near the lake.
cruelly honest
1/kɹˈuli ˈɑnɪst/
fixed phrase
bluntly honest in a hurtful way
So honest that it hurts.
Exemples
- He was cruelly honest about her chances of getting the job.
- She gave a cruelly honest review of the book.
- I appreciate feedback, but you don’t have to be cruelly honest.
cruelly ironic
1/kɹˈuli aɪɹˈɑnɪk/
fixed phrase
painfully ironic in effect
Very ironic in a way that hurts.
Exemples
- It was cruelly ironic that the firefighter’s house burned down.
- Cruelly ironic, the warning system failed during the safety drill.
- The timing was cruelly ironic: he got the promotion the day he resigned.
cruelly unfair
1/kɹˈuli ʌnfˈɛɹ/
fixed phrase
extremely unfair and hurtful
Very unfair and painful.
Exemples
- It’s cruelly unfair that he gets blamed for everything.
- The rules were cruelly unfair to part-time workers.
- It felt cruelly unfair to be excluded without an explanation.