cruelly

KROO-uh-lee

Cruelly (adv) means In a way that causes deliberate pain or suffering; mercilessly. Example: “The prisoners were treated cruelly by their captors.”

adv

In a way that causes deliberate pain or suffering; mercilessly.

"The prisoners were treated cruelly by their captors."

To a harsh or bitter degree.

"The joke was cruelly accurate."

How to use cruelly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDone in a harsh, merciless way.

Common pairings

treated cruelly cruelly mocked

Word forms

more cruelly comparative, most cruelly superlative

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The prisoners were treated _____ by their captors.

Etymology

From Middle English cruelly; equivalent to cruel + -ly.

Origin: Middle English

Rhymes for cruelly

belly jelly nelly telly Kelly smelly Shelly Connelly Donnelly underbelly squirrelly

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Frequently asked questions

What does “cruelly” mean?

The word “cruelly” means in a way that causes deliberate pain or suffering; mercilessly. In plain terms, done in a harsh, merciless way.

How do you pronounce “cruelly”?

“Cruelly” is pronounced KROO-uh-lee (/ˈkɹuːəli/ in IPA).

How do you use “cruelly” in a sentence?

Here is “cruelly” used in a sentence: “The prisoners were treated cruelly by their captors.”

What part of speech is “cruelly”?

“Cruelly” is an adverb.

How many meanings does “cruelly” have?

“Cruelly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a way that causes deliberate pain or suffering; mercilessly.

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