- cruelty, inhuman treatment - a cruel act; a deliberate infliction of pain and suffering
--1 is a kind of maltreatment, ill-treatment, ill-usage, abuse
--1 has particulars: impalement; atrocity, inhumanity - cruelty, mercilessness, pitilessness, ruthlessness - feelings of extreme heartlessness
--2 is a kind of heartlessness, coldheartedness, hardheartedness
- cruelty, cruelness, harshness - the quality of being cruel and causing tension or annoyance
--3 is a kind of malevolence, malevolency, malice
--3 has particulars:ferociousness, brutality, viciousness, savageness, savagery; murderousness, bloodthirstiness