Cruelty means causing pain or suffering to others on purpose, especially when you enjoy it or simply don't care about how they feel. A person shows cruelty when they hurt someone weaker than themselves just because they can, like a bully who keeps picking on the same kid even after seeing them cry.

Animals can experience cruelty too. Someone who kicks a dog or neglects to feed their pet is being cruel. That's why we have laws against animal cruelty to protect creatures that can't defend themselves.

Cruelty is different from accidentally hurting someone or causing necessary pain (like when a doctor gives you a shot to prevent illness). A cruel person either enjoys making others suffer or simply doesn't care about their pain. They might laugh at someone's embarrassment, spread rumors to damage friendships, or keep teasing long after it stops being funny.

The opposite of cruelty is compassion or kindness. When you notice someone being cruel, you're seeing something that violates a basic rule of civilization: that we should care about how our actions affect others. People remember acts of cruelty for years because they can reveal something disturbing about the person who commits them.