The attribute or quality of being cruel; a disposition to give unnecessary pain or suffering to others; inhumanity; barbarity.

A cruel and barbarous deed; inhuman treatment; the act of willfully causing unnecessary pain.

Intentional and malicious infliction of mental and physical suffering on someone.

a cruel act; a deliberate infliction of pain and suffering

Physical harm or injury inflicted upon an animal by an individual or group of individuals.

to cause suffering, inhumane treatment

Any act of inflicting unnecessary emotional or physical pain. Cruelty or mental cruelty is the most frequently used fault ground for divorce because as a practical matter, courts will accept minor wrongs or disagreements as sufficient evidence of cruelty to justify the divorce.