Cruel and Stern

Similar meaning words

Cruel adjective - Having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others.

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Stern is a synonym for cruel in harsh topic. In some cases you can use "Stern" instead an adjective "Cruel", when it comes to topics like callous.

Nearby Words: cruelty, cruelly

Stern adjective - Given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint.

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Cruel is a synonym for stern in harsh topic. Sometimes you can use "Cruel" instead an adjective "Stern", if it concerns topics such as serious.

Nearby Words: sternness, sternly, sterne

Before his Character Development into a kindly Idiot Savant, Rom usually appeared fairly stern and even cruel with Nog.

Source: Aww, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other
While her father Verdauga had a stern but fair rule, Tsarmina, his cruel and impulsive daughter, poisoned him in order to take the throne for herself.

Source: The Wrongful Heir to the Throne
Also done by the leader of the Stern Ritter, Haschwald, when he subjects Hidetomo to a cruel Breaking Speech before slicing him in half with his hand and by Bambietta when she insults Komamura, calling him a "doggie dog" afer killing half his division.

Source: Kick The Dog / Anime and Manga

Cite this Source

Stern and Cruel. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 01, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/cruel/stern

Cruel & Stern. N.p., 2016. Web. 01 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/cruel/stern>.

Stern or Cruel. 2016. Accessed August 01, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/cruel/stern.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "cruel" and "stern" have occurred on timeline