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Cruel vs Barbarous - What's the difference?

cruel | barbarous |

As adjectives the difference between cruel and barbarous

is that cruel is not nice; mean; heartless while barbarous is not classical or pure.

As a verb cruel

is to spoil or ruin (one's chance of success).

cruel

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Not nice; mean; heartless.
    • The supervisor was very cruel to Josh, as he would always give Josh the hardest, most degrading work he could find.
  • (slang) Cool; awesome; neat.

    • Synonyms

    * brutal * sadistic * vicious

    Antonyms

    * merciful

    Derived terms

    * cruelly

    Related terms

    * crude * crudeness * cruelty

    Verb

  • To spoil or ruin (one's chance of success)

    • External links

    * *

    Anagrams

    * * ----

    barbarous

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (obsolete) barbarouse

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Not classical or pure.
  • uncivilized, uncultured
  • Like a barbarian, especially in sound; noisy, dissonant.
    • I did but prompt the age to quit their cloggs
    By the known rules of antient libertie,
    When strait a barbarous noise environs me
    Of Owles and Cuckoes, Asses, Apes and Doggs - (1673)

    Derived terms

    * barbarously * barbarousness

    Related terms

    * barbarian * barbaric