Cruel
Cruel adjective - Having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it.
Usage example: the bully was fond of making cruel little jabs at his victim's sore points
Contemptuous and cruel are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Contemptuous" instead an adjective "Cruel".
Contemptuous
Contemptuous adjective - Feeling or showing open dislike for someone or something regarded as undeserving of respect or concern.
Usage example: loutish tourists who are contemptuous of the ways and traditions of their host countries
Cruel and contemptuous are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Cruel" instead an adjective "Contemptuous".
Cite this Source
Contemptuous and Cruel. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 09, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/cruel/contemptuous
Cruel & Contemptuous. N.p., 2016. Web. 09 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/cruel/contemptuous>.
Contemptuous or Cruel. 2016. Accessed August 09, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/cruel/contemptuous.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "cruel" and "contemptuous" have occurred on timeline