| 释义 |
cru·el
I. \ˈkrü]əl, -u̇]əl also -ü]l, esp Brit ](ˌ)il\ adjective
(crueler or crueller ; cruelest or cruellest)
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin crudelis, irregular from crudus raw — more at raw
1.
a. : disposed to inflict pain especially in a wanton, insensate, or vindictive manner : pleased by hurting others : sadistic : devoid of kindness
b. : rapacious, ravening : given to killing and mangling or to tormenting prey
c. : arising from or indicative of an inclination to enjoy another's pain or misfortune
< cruel epigrams >
< cruel slanders >
2.
a. : bitterly conducted : devoid of mildness : causing or conducive to injury, grief, or pain
< a cruel struggle for existence >
b. : stern, rigorous, and grim : unrelieved by leniency or softness
< a monastic regula stern and cruel >
c. : bitterly ironical
3. : severe, distressing : extremely painful : extreme
Synonyms: see fierce
II. adverb
now dialect : cruelly, extremely
< a cruel hard job >
III. transitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
slang Australia : to destroy all chance of success : spoil
< that crueled the experiment > |