absolutely cruel

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absolutely cruel" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the extreme nature of someone's cruelty or an action that is perceived as very harsh or unkind. Example: "The decision to abandon the animals was absolutely cruel and showed a complete lack of compassion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

To the seared tuna, the lighting was absolutely cruel.

The New York Times - Food

Where Kelly had conducted a long and lopsided feud with Trump — she was relatively skeptical of him, he was absolutely cruel toward her — Carlson thought Trump was refreshing, not least because of his habit of making enemies on the left and the right.

The New Yorker

How absolutely cruel.

Huffington Post

We talked about how unfair they were to us, how absolutely cruel they were because they wouldn't let us go see an R-rated movie.

Huffington Post

"It's absolutely cruel, it's absolutely inhumane, and that's what my artwork is about," Martland told VICE in a recent phone interview.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It is utterly cruel.

Independent

Older people in hospitals and care homes are being left without enough food and drink in incidents that are "absolutely barmy and cruel beyond belief", Sir Michael Parkinson says today in a report on his work as the government's "dignity ambassador".

The Guardian

I want to say their rising sun is setting, but that would be unfair, cruel, and absolutely wrong.

TechCrunch

Absolutely one of the cruelest things that we can do to those in particular need is bankrupt the system.

Huffington Post

I absolutely love her – she was so cruel in it.

The Guardian

But it is all the other things of course – deeply shallow, humiliating, sometimes even cruel, and based on absolutely nothing at all but looks.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "absolutely cruel" to emphasize the extreme nature of cruelty when describing actions, behaviors, or situations that evoke strong feelings of injustice or inhumanity. This phrase can effectively convey the severity of the situation to the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "absolutely cruel" in casual conversation or informal writing where a less intense expression would suffice. Overusing such a strong phrase can diminish its impact when describing truly severe situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absolutely cruel" functions as an intensifier followed by an adjective. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to emphasize the extreme degree of cruelty, modifying nouns or situations to highlight their harsh or inhumane nature. Ludwig examples showcase its usage across various media to convey strong negative sentiments.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "absolutely cruel" is a phrase used to emphatically describe something as extremely cruel or inhumane. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, particularly for emphasizing the severity of a situation. While grammatically sound, this phrase is best used in contexts, such as news reporting or analytical writing, where a strong and critical tone is appropriate. Alternatives like "utterly inhumane" or "completely merciless" can be used to express similar sentiments with slightly different nuances. Remember to consider the impact of such a strong expression and reserve its use for situations that truly warrant it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly inhumane

This alternative focuses on the lack of compassion and humanity in the action or behavior.

completely merciless

This phrase highlights the absence of pity or forgiveness.

thoroughly ruthless

This alternative underscores the lack of concern for the suffering of others.

entirely heartless

This phrase emphasizes the lack of empathy or feeling.

genuinely brutal

This option stresses the harsh and violent nature of the act or person.

exceptionally harsh

This alternative highlights the severity and unyielding nature of the treatment.

unquestionably severe

This emphasizes the extreme and undeniable nature of the cruelty.

positively savage

This phrase illustrates a wild and uncontrolled cruelty.

plainly barbaric

This alternative evokes a sense of uncivilized and brutal behavior.

downright atrocious

This option points out the shockingly bad and cruel nature of something.

FAQs

How can I use "absolutely cruel" in a sentence?

You can use "absolutely cruel" to describe actions or situations marked by extreme cruelty. For example, "The dictator's regime was known for its absolutely cruel treatment of political prisoners."

What phrases are similar to "absolutely cruel"?

Alternatives include "utterly inhumane", "completely merciless", or "thoroughly ruthless", which all convey a high degree of severity and lack of compassion.

Is it always appropriate to use "absolutely cruel"?

While grammatically correct, "absolutely cruel" is a strong expression and should be reserved for situations where the cruelty is particularly egregious. Consider the context and audience when choosing this phrase.

What makes "absolutely cruel" different from simply saying "cruel"?

The addition of "absolutely" intensifies the adjective "cruel", emphasizing the extreme nature or degree of cruelty. It adds a layer of emphasis that "cruel" alone may not convey.