cruel
UK/kruəl/US/'kru:әl/
TOEFLB1
Definitions
adj.
Deliberately causing pain or suffering; merciless.
残忍的，残酷的；无情的。
adj.
Causing great pain or distress, though not by intention (a cruel twist of fate).
（非有意地）令人极度痛苦的（如 a cruel twist of fate）。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedFrom Latin crudelis ('harsh, cruel'), built on the same crud- ('raw, bloody') stem behind crude. The link is vivid: cruelty is 'raw, bloody' behaviour — savage, unsoftened by mercy. The same root that gives 'raw meat' gives 'a cruel heart.'
Root rud still carries 20 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.cruel treatment残忍的对待
- 2.cruel joke残忍的玩笑
- 3.cruel twist of fate命运的残酷捉弄
- 4.be cruel to对……残忍
Example Sentences
- 1.
It would be cruel to leave the dog out in the cold.
- 2.
By a cruel twist of fate, the letter arrived a day too late.