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Oppression vs Cruelty - What's the difference?

oppression | cruelty |

As nouns the difference between oppression and cruelty

is that oppression is the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner while cruelty is (uncountable) an indifference to suffering or positive pleasure in inflicting suffering.

oppression

English

Noun

  • The exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner.
  • * (Sir Walter Raleigh)
  • Oh, by what plots, by what forswearings, betrayings, oppressions , imprisonments, tortures, poisonings, and under what reasons of state and politic subtilty, have these forenamed kings
  • The act of oppressing, or the state of being oppressed.
  • A feeling of being oppressed.
  • *, chapter=7
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=[…] St.?Bede's at this period of its history was perhaps the poorest and most miserable parish in the East End of London. Close-packed, crushed by the buttressed height of the railway viaduct, rendered airless by huge walls of factories, it at once banished lively interest from a stranger's mind and left only a dull oppression of the spirit.}}

    cruelty

    English

    Alternative forms

    * cruellty (obsolete) * cruelltie (obsolete)

    Noun

  • (uncountable) an indifference to suffering or positive pleasure in inflicting suffering.
  • (countable) a cruel act
  • Anagrams

    * cutlery