Crueller

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Characterized by a greater degree of causing suffering or pain through harshness or brutality ; exhibiting intensified severity or harshness in treatment or actions ; displaying more intense or extreme harshness or unkindness in behavior
2. Marked by an increased tendency to inflict physical or emotional harm ; showing a higher level of mercilessness or severity in dealings with others ; indicative of a stronger disposition towards cruelty or harsh treatment
3. Featuring amplified harshness or severity in conduct or attitude ; signifying a more profound level of meanness or inhumanity ; representing an elevated extent of ruthless or pitiless treatment toward others

Etymology: "Crueller" is simply the comparative of "cruel", formed by adding the "-er" ending to show a greater degree of the quality. The base word arrived in Middle English from Old French "cruel", which itself came from Latin "crūdēlis", meaning "hard, severe, cruel". That Latin adjective is related to "crūdus", meaning "raw" or "crude", so the idea of cruelty is tied to something unfinished or unfeeling in its original sense.

Synonyms: more cruel, meaner, harsher, more brutal, more ruthless

Antonyms: kinder, gentler, more compassionate, more merciful, more humane