How Do You Spell CRUELLEST?

Pronunciation: [kɹˈuːələst] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "cruellest" is somewhat tricky for non-native speakers because of the extra "l" at the end. Here is how it is spelled phonetically: kru-uh-l-ist. The "-est" suffix is a common superlative ending, indicating that something or someone is the most cruel. But the extra "l" is not pronounced, and may lead to confusion in spelling. Therefore, it is important to remember that the correct spelling is "cruellest," with only two "l's" pronounced.

Meaning and Definition
Common Misspellings
Etymology
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CRUELLEST Meaning and Definition

  1. Cruellest is the superlative form of the adjective cruel, which describes someone or something that is extremely unkind, lacking in mercy, or exhibiting an excessive delight in causing others pain, suffering, or distress. It denotes the highest level or degree of cruelty within a given context.

    When describing a person as the cruellest, it implies that they surpass others in their capacity for causing harm to others or deriving satisfaction from inflicting emotional, mental, or physical anguish. Such individuals may display a complete disregard for the well-being or feelings of others, often exhibiting callous behavior and intentionally choosing actions that lead to the suffering of others.

    In the context of animals, the term cruellest is used to describe acts or behaviors that inflict unnecessary pain or suffering on them, often involving deliberate abuse, neglect, or mistreatment.

    The term cruellest implies an extreme lack of empathy or compassion, suggesting a significant character flaw or the adoption of malicious tendencies. It also suggests that the individual possesses a high degree of sadism, finding pleasure or satisfaction in witnessing or causing pain to others.

    Overall, the term cruellest captures the notion of a person or action that is characterized by an exceptional degree of unkindness, brutality, and the conscious infliction of suffering or harm onto others.

Common Misspellings for CRUELLEST

Etymology of CRUELLEST

The word "cruellest" is derived from the adjective "cruel". The etymology of "cruel" can be traced back to the Latin adjective "crudelis", which means "hard-hearted", "harsh", or "cruel". In turn, "crudelis" is thought to have originated from the Latin term "crudus", meaning "raw" or "unripe". The word eventually evolved in Old French as "cruel", maintaining its core meaning of lacking compassion or causing suffering. The superlative form "cruellest" refers to the utmost level of cruelty.