The word "crueler" is a comparative adjective of the word "cruel", which means showing no mercy or causing pain or suffering. The spelling of "crueler" may seem confusing because it appears to break the common rule of adding "-er" to the end of a word to make it comparative. However, its spelling is related to the number of syllables in the word. The IPA phonetic transcription of "cruel" is /ˈkruːəl/, whereas "crueler" is pronounced as /ˈkruː.lər/. The "-er" syllable is added as a separate syllable because "cruel" has two syllables.
The term "crueler" is the comparative form of the adjective "cruel," which refers to a characteristic or behavior that exhibits a lack of compassion, kindness, or mercy towards others. When comparing the extent or level of cruelty between two things or individuals, the term "crueler" is employed.
"Cruel" is often used to describe actions, words, or consequences that cause pain, suffering, or harm deliberately and without remorse. It implies a complete disregard for the well-being or happiness of others, either inflicted directly or indirectly. Cruelty can manifest in various forms, such as physical, emotional, psychological, or even social, and can occur in personal relationships, societal contexts, or systemic structures.
The term "crueler" suggests that the behavior, act, or situation being referred to is comparatively more severe, harsh, or unkind than another scenario. It portrays an intensification of cruelty, indicating a higher level of callousness or malicious intent towards the affected party.
Overall, "crueler" represents a comparative form of cruelty, highlighting increased severity, insensitivity, or brutality. It showcases the amplification of unkindness or mercilessness in comparison to another situation or entity. The comparative form allows for discerning between levels of cruelty and expressing the degree to which one instance of cruelty may be more intense or severe than another.
The word "crueler" is derived from the adjective "cruel", which originated from the Old French word "cruel" or "creu", meaning "hard, harsh, severe, or fierce". The Old French term ultimately derived from the Latin word "crudelis". The suffix "-er" is added to form the comparative degree of the adjective, indicating a greater degree of cruelty.