Cruel
Cruel adjective - Having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others.
Usage example: cruel and unusual punishments are forbidden by the U.S. Constitution
Inhuman is a synonym for cruel in brutal topic. In some cases you can use "Inhuman" instead the word "Cruel" as an adjective or an adverb, when it comes to topics like kind, barbarian, vicious, ferocious. popular alternative
Inhuman
Inhuman adjective - Difficult to endure.
Usage example: kept the prisoners in criminally inhuman conditions
Cruel is a synonym for inhuman in kind topic. You can use "Cruel" instead the word "Inhuman" as an adjective or an adverb, if it concerns topics such as animal, savage, barbarian, ferocious. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
- The bereaved naturally think you cruel and inhuman for laughing at such a tragedy.
Source: Undignified Death -
Expect any complaints about cruel and inhuman punishment and sadistic prison staff to be ignored or just acknowledged with a "Well, maybe they shouldn't have broken the law".
Source: Acceptable Professional Targets - In Elfen Lied the cruel and inhuman treatment of the diclonii makes it easy to root for them and see the scientist who capture and experiment on them as the villains.
Cite this Source
Inhuman and Cruel. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/cruel/inhuman
Cruel & Inhuman. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/cruel/inhuman>.
Inhuman or Cruel. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/cruel/inhuman.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "cruel" and "inhuman" have occurred on timeline