the state or quality of being cruel.

cruel disposition or conduct.

a cruel act.

Law . conduct by a spouse that causes grievous bodily harm or mental suffering.

noun

charity , compassion , consideration , feeling , gentility , kindness , mercy , niceness , thoughtfulness

noun

animality , barbarism , barbarity , bestiality , bloodthirstiness , brutishness , callousness , coarseness , coldness , depravity , despotism , ferocity , fiendishness , fierceness , hard-heartedness , heartlessness , inhumanity , insensibility , insensitiveness , malice , malignity , masochism , mercilessness , murderousness , persecution , rancor , ruthlessness , sadism , savageness , savagery , severity , spite , spitefulness , torture , truculence , unfeelingness , unkindness , venom , viciousness , wickedness , brutality , truculency