(1)残酷(忍)的((of people)liking to cause pain or suffering to others)[A(to)](derog)：a～boss/master/dictator/tyrant残酷的老板/主人/独裁者/暴君;be～to animals/prisoners对动物/囚犯残忍;It is～of you to beat the dog like that.你这么打狗是残忍的。〖同〗inhuman，pitiless，savage，merciless，ruthless;〖反〗merciful，kind;

(2)引起痛苦的(causing pain or suffering)：a～war/punishment/blow残酷的战争/惩罚/打击;a～lesson/remark/wound/disease/sight痛苦的教训/刻薄的话/吓人的伤口/严重的疾病/惨不忍睹的情景;～luck/winds噩运/无情的风;

→′cruelly adv 残酷(忍)地;′cruelness n 残酷(忍);′cruelty n 残酷(忍);残酷(忍)的行为;

【辨异】cruel与pitiless和savage都可表示残忍无情。cruel表示残忍、冷漠无情，如：a cruel stepfather(残酷的继父);pitiless(不怜恤的，无情的)指心肠硬、不同情，如：be pitiless to captives(对俘虏无情);savage(野蛮的，凶残的)指粗暴、凶蛮，如：savage battles(惨烈的战斗)。还有ruthless(无情的、冷酷的)指残忍，并且不择手段，肆无忌掸，如：a ruthless enemy(残酷的敌人)。