Brutal vs. Cruel: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 12, 2023
Brutal often implies savagery and lack of emotion, while Cruel implies deliberate infliction of pain or suffering.
Key Differences
Brutal generally describes actions, conditions, or individuals that are harsh, unfeeling, or violent. It suggests a lack of emotion or consideration, often associated with raw force or violence. Cruel, on the other hand, implies a wish or intent to cause pain, distress, or suffering, whether physical or emotional.
A Brutal act doesn't necessarily mean there was intent to harm, but rather that the action itself was severe or harsh. For instance, a brutal winter doesn't "intend" harm, but its conditions can be dangerous. Conversely, Cruel always carries an element of intentionality, highlighting the wish to see another suffer.
It's possible for something to be Brutal without being Cruel. For example, nature can be brutal—think of natural disasters. They can cause destruction without the intent to harm. Cruelty, however, always suggests a malevolent desire to hurt, degrade, or inflict suffering on another being.
Brutal often conveys a raw, unfiltered force or intensity. A brutal truth, for instance, is one that is direct, unsoftened, and perhaps difficult to hear. Cruel, in contrast, often pertains to behaviors and actions that reveal a lack of humanity, kindness, or compassion, highlighting a more emotional or sadistic aspect.
In summary, while both Brutal and Cruel can describe harshness and severity, Brutal is more about the intensity and force, and Cruel centers around the desire or pleasure in causing pain or suffering.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
Savage; lacking in emotion.
Deliberately causing pain.
Intent
May or may not be intentional.
Always implies intentionality.
Usage
Describes harshness or force.
Describes desire to cause harm.
Example
Brutal weather conditions.
Cruel treatment of animals.
Connotation
Raw, unfiltered force.
Malevolence, lack of compassion.
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Brutal and Cruel Definitions
Brutal
Extremely honest or direct.
He gave a brutal assessment of the project.
Cruel
Causing pain or distress.
It is cruel to keep birds in small cages.
Brutal
Overwhelming or extreme.
The team faced brutal competition in the finals.
Cruel
Inhumane or barbaric.
Cruel punishments were doled out by the tyrant.
Brutal
Violent or savage in nature.
The movie depicted a brutal battle scene.
Cruel
Bitter or harsh.
Life can be cruel at times.
Brutal
Extremely ruthless or cruel.
Cruel
Relentlessly severe.
The cruel fate of the shipwrecked sailors was mourned by all.
Brutal
Crude or unfeeling in manner or speech.
Cruel
Disposed to inflict pain or suffering
A cruel tyrant.
Brutal
Harsh; unrelenting
A brutal winter in the Arctic.
Cruel
Causing or characterized by severe pain, suffering, or distress
Cruel treatment.
A cruel remark.
Brutal
Disagreeably precise or penetrating
Spoke with brutal honesty.
Cruel
Intentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless.
The supervisor was very cruel to Josh, as he would always give Josh the hardest, most degrading work he could find.
Brutal
Savagely violent, vicious, ruthless, or cruel.
Cruel
Harsh; severe.
Brutal
Crude or unfeeling in manner or speech.
Cruel
(slang) Cool; awesome; neat.
Brutal
Harsh; unrelenting.
Cruel
(nonstandard) To a great degree; terribly.
Brutal
Disagreeably precise or penetrating.
Cruel
To spoil or ruin (one's chance of success)
Brutal
In extreme metal, to describe the speed of the music and the density of riffs.
Cruel
To violently provoke (a child) in the belief that this will make them more assertive.
Brutal
Direct and without attempt to disguise unpleasantness.
Brutal honesty
Cruel
See Crewel.
Brutal
Of or pertaining to a brute; as, brutal nature.
Cruel
Disposed to give pain to others; willing or pleased to hurt, torment, or afflict; destitute of sympathetic kindness and pity; savage; inhuman; hard-hearted; merciless.
Behold a people cometh from the north country; . . . they are cruel and have no mercy.
Brutal
Like a brute; savage; cruel; inhuman; brutish; unfeeling; merciless; gross; as, brutal manners.
Cruel
Causing, or fitted to cause, pain, grief, or misery.
Cruel wars, wasting the earth.
Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath for it was cruel.
Brutal
(of weapons or instruments) causing suffering and pain;
Brutal instruments of torture
Cruel weapons of war
Cruel
Attended with cruetly; painful; harsh.
You have seen cruel proof of this man's strength.
Brutal
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering;
A barbarous crime
Brutal beatings
Cruel tortures
Stalin's roughshod treatment of the kulaks
A savage slap
Vicious kicks
Cruel
Lacking or showing kindness or compassion or mercy
Brutal
Used of circumstances (especially weather) that cause suffering;
Brutal weather
Northern winters can be cruel
A cruel world
A harsh climate
A rigorous climate
Unkind winters
Cruel
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering;
A barbarous crime
Brutal beatings
Cruel tortures
Stalin's roughshod treatment of the kulaks
A savage slap
Vicious kicks
Brutal
Lacking in compassion or sensitivity.
His brutal remarks hurt her feelings.
Cruel
(of weapons or instruments) causing suffering and pain;
Brutal instruments of torture
Cruel weapons of war
Cruel
Used of circumstances (especially weather) that cause suffering;
Brutal weather
Northern winters can be cruel
A cruel world
A harsh climate
A rigorous climate
Unkind winters
Cruel
Showing a desire to cause pain or suffering.
Her cruel words left him in tears.
FAQs
Can Brutal be used to describe nature?
Yes, like in "brutal weather conditions."
Does Cruel always indicate intentionality?
Yes, Cruel suggests a deliberate desire to cause harm or suffering.
Is every Cruel action done with malice?
Cruel actions typically have a malevolent or sadistic intent.
Can criticism be Cruel?
Yes, if it's intended to hurt or degrade, it's cruel.
Can training be Brutal?
Yes, like a brutal workout that's extremely intense.
Are all Brutal actions Cruel?
No, brutality can exist without the intent to cause suffering.
Can a truth be Brutal?
Yes, a truth that's harsh or direct can be described as brutal.
Can a person be both Brutal and Cruel?
Yes, someone can act with both severity and a desire to harm.
Can silence be Cruel?
Yes, if it's used to intentionally hurt or ostracize someone.
Is it correct to describe a test as Cruel?
If it's excessively difficult or harsh, it might be termed cruel.
Can jokes be Cruel?
Yes, especially if they mock or hurt someone intentionally.
Can a landscape be Brutal?
Yes, like a brutal desert with extreme conditions.
Is it correct to say Cruel fate?
Yes, it refers to a fate that's relentlessly severe or unfortunate.
Is Brutal synonymous with violent?
They're similar, but Brutal can refer to non-violent intensities too.
Can a punishment be Cruel?
Yes, if it's excessively severe or intended to cause undue pain.
Can music be Brutal?
Yes, it might describe intense or aggressive genres like some metal subgenres.
Can an environment be Cruel?
Yes, like a cruel world that's unkind or harsh.
Does Brutal always mean physical force?
No, it can also describe emotional harshness or directness.
How does Brutal differ from harsh?
While similar, Brutal often suggests more raw force or intensity than harsh.
Are Brutal and Cruel completely synonymous?
No, while they overlap, Brutal emphasizes severity, while Cruel highlights malicious intent.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
