What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Cruel vs Strict - What's the difference?

cruel | strict | Related terms |

Strict is a synonym of cruel.



As adjectives the difference between cruel and strict

is that cruel is not nice; mean; heartless while strict is strained; drawn close; tight.

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

    Verb

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

    * * ----

    strict

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Strained; drawn close; tight.
  • strict embrace
    strict ligature
  • Tense; not relaxed.
  • strict fiber
  • Exact; accurate; precise; rigorously nice.
  • to keep strict watch
    to pay strict attention
  • Governed or governing by exact rules; observing exact rules; severe; rigorous.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1905, author=
  • , title= , chapter=2 citation , passage=No one, however, would have anything to do with him, as Mr. Keeson's orders in those respects were very strict  ; he had often threatened any one of his employés with instant dismissal if he found him in company with one of these touts.}}
    very strict in observing the Sabbath
  • Rigidly interpreted; exactly limited; confined; restricted.
  • to understand words in a strict sense
  • (botany) Upright, or straight and narrow; — said of the shape of the plants or their flower clusters.
  • Severe in discipline.
  • Usage notes

    * Stricter'' and ''strictest'' are the grammatically correct forms for the comparative and superlative though outside UK ''more strict'' and ''most strict are more often used.

    Antonyms

    * lenient * lax * permissive