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
Mean-spirited and cruel are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Mean-spirited" instead an adjective "Cruel".
Mean-spirited
Cruel and mean-spirited are semantically related. You can use "Cruel" instead an adjective phrase "Mean-spirited".
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- mean and cruel
- mean and mean-spirited
- unpleasant and cruel
- unpleasant and mean-spirited
- hateful and cruel
- hateful and mean-spirited
- nasty and cruel
- nasty and mean-spirited
- vicious and cruel
- vicious and mean-spirited
- unkind and cruel
- unkind and mean-spirited
- terrible and cruel
- terrible and mean-spirited
Both words in one sentence
- She's not cruel or mean-spirited but she'll call you an idiot for not playing a board game correctly.
Source: Literature / Alex Verus -
Asshole Victim: Jim's pranks on Dwight can sometimes be very cruel and mean-spirited.
Source: Series / The Office (US) -
The show in general became incredibly cruel and mean-spirited after the whimsical pilot.
Cite this Source
Mean-spirited and Cruel. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 02, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/cruel/mean-spirited
Cruel & Mean-spirited. N.p., 2016. Web. 02 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/cruel/mean-spirited>.
Mean-spirited or Cruel. 2016. Accessed August 02, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/cruel/mean-spirited.
