cruel attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cruel attempt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an effort or action that is harsh, unkind, or intended to cause suffering. Example: "The cruel attempt to undermine her confidence only made her stronger in the end."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

This is not a cruel attempt to hold an everyday man to the standards of an airbrushed model or a nipped and tucked actor.

The Washington Post

Earlier this year Wallström openly denounced Saudi Arabia's flogging of liberal blogger Raif Badawi, describing it as a "cruel attempt to silence modern forms of expression" that must be stopped.

The Guardian

Now, in his latest futile, small-minded and cruel attempt to cut migration off at the neck (something we know is not possible – an unhealthy societal dynamic must be addressed at the root, just like with a struggling tree or crop), Donald Trump announced last week that he would cut all foreign aid to the northern triangle.

The Guardian - Opinion

This cruel attempt to silence modern forms of expression has to be stopped.

Vice

According to a lawsuit, prison staff would restrict his access to food and water in a cruel attempt to control his behavior.

Vice

In a cruel attempt to intimidate him into making his payments, the loan shark sexually assaulted Ramesh's sister and seized the family home.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Now, Archbishop O'Malley has dismissed lawyers who had compounded the scandal through delays and cruel attempts to portray culpability in the victims.

The New York Times

In Britain, Profumo's downfall naturally caused a huge sensation, inflated by the establishment's crude and cruel attempts to find scapegoats for its own embarrassment.

The Guardian

With cruel irony, attempts to revive the Persian Gulf trade were followed by a British mission from India in 1800, which ultimately opened the way for a drain of Persian bullion to India.

Encyclopedia Britannica

On Surrender, Cheap Trick singer Robin Zander had to feed Cyrus lyrics as he wailed, while on Don't Be Cruel, Cyrus attempted an Elvis Presley impression – bloated-era Elvis, which considering the result was highly appropriate.

The Guardian - Music

An Iraqi regime faced with its own demise may attempt cruel and desperate measures.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cruel attempt", ensure the context clearly demonstrates an intention to cause harm or suffering, either physical or emotional.

Common error

Avoid using "cruel attempt" to describe situations that are merely unfortunate or difficult but lack deliberate malicious intent. Reserve it for scenarios where the cruelty is a clear and intended element of the action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cruel attempt" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "cruel" modifies the noun "attempt". It is often used to describe a specific action or effort characterized by malicious intent. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cruel attempt" is used to describe an action or effort characterized by malicious intention and the desire to inflict suffering. Ludwig AI validates that it is grammatically correct and suitable for written English to describe efforts that are harsh, unkind, or intended to cause suffering. While "cruel attempt" is not extremely common, appearing mostly in news and media, it serves an important purpose in expressing condemnation. Be mindful of using it accurately in cases where clear malice is present, and consider alternatives like "ruthless effort" or "heartless scheme" for slight shifts in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ruthless effort

Substitutes "cruel" with "ruthless", stressing the absence of pity or compassion, and "attempt" with "effort", a more general term for exertion.

callous endeavor

Replaces "cruel" with "callous" and "attempt" with "endeavor", changing the tone slightly to emphasize indifference and determination respectively.

merciless endeavor

Replaces "cruel" with "merciless" reinforcing the lack of compassion and "attempt" with "endeavor" suggesting a purposeful effort.

heartless scheme

Replaces "cruel" with "heartless", emphasizing the lack of empathy, and "attempt" with "scheme", suggesting a plan or plot.

brutal undertaking

Changes "cruel" to "brutal", highlighting the harshness or violence, and "attempt" to "undertaking", indicating a task that is taken on.

savage undertaking

Changes "cruel" to "savage", stressing the ferocity or barbarity and "attempt" to "undertaking" for a task.

vicious maneuver

Replaces "cruel" with "vicious", suggesting malicious intent, and "attempt" with "maneuver", implying strategic action.

vindictive ploy

Replaces "cruel" with "vindictive" to emphasize the desire for revenge, and "attempt" with "ploy" implying deception.

malicious stratagem

Changes "cruel" to "malicious" focusing on the intention to do evil and "attempt" with "stratagem" suggesting a clever and often deceptive scheme.

inhumane act

Substitutes "cruel attempt" with "inhumane act", focusing more on the outcome and its lack of humaneness.

FAQs

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

You can use "cruel attempt" to describe actions meant to cause suffering. For example: "The dictator's "cruel attempt" to silence dissent only strengthened the resistance."

What are some alternatives to "cruel attempt"?

Alternatives include "ruthless effort", "callous endeavor", or "heartless scheme", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "cruel attempt" the same as "failed attempt"?

No, "cruel attempt" focuses on the malicious intent behind the action, whereas "failed attempt" simply indicates that an action did not succeed, regardless of its intent. It is important to avoid using "cruel attempt" to describe a "failed attempt" that was not intended to be cruel.

What makes an attempt "cruel"?

An attempt is "cruel" when it is characterized by actions or intentions designed to cause pain, suffering, or distress. The presence of malicious intent distinguishes a "cruel attempt" from other types of attempts.