English pronunciation · Words Starting with C
Cruel Pronunciation
Cruel is pronounced KROO-uhl, IPA /ˈkruəl/.
KROO-uhl
US /ˈkruəl/ · UK /ˈkruːəl/
Syllables: KROO · uhl (2 syllables, stress on syllable 1)
adjective: Deliberately causing pain or suffering and showing no concern about it.
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Cruel in a Sentence
- It was a cruel thing to say in front of the children.
- The law was cruel even by the standards of its time.
- Shutting the library felt cruel to everyone who used it.
Common Mispronunciations of Cruel
Not KROOL
Two beats here, since the oo and the uhl each take one, so this does not rhyme with school.
Not kroo-EL
Give KROO the force; the uhl behind it is only a trailing-off.
Tip: Cruelty adds a third beat and leaves the peak where it was: KROO-uhl-tee.
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