冷酷|れいこくreikoku[0]heiban (flat)

1. na-adjective, nouncruelty; coldheartedness; relentless; ruthless
   犬いぬを叩たたくなんて彼かれは冷酷れいこくだ。↗

   It was cruel of him to beat his dog.

• Synonym残酷ざんこくNeutralCruel in the sense of inflicting pain, as in 「残酷な仕打ち」 and 「残酷な現実」; 「冷酷」 stresses a cold heart with no sympathy rather than the cruelty itself.
• Synonym無情むじょうNeutralHeartless; also used of things that have no feelings or life. 「冷酷」 stresses coldness.
• Synonym残忍ざんにんNeutralBrutal and vicious, focusing on cruel means or methods; 「冷酷」 focuses on a cold, unsympathetic heart.
• SynonymひどいNeutralThe same word as 「惨い」 above, here written 「酷い」: cruel, or too dreadful to watch.
• Synonym無慈悲むじひNeutralCompletely without mercy or pity. 「冷酷」 stresses cold indifference toward others.
• Synonym冷血れいけつNeutralCold-blooded and heartless; leans colloquial, while 「冷酷」 is the more written, formal choice.
• Synonym酷薄こくはくWrittenA written/formal word for harsh, heartless callousness; 「冷酷」 is more common.
• Synonym冷酷無情れいこくむじょうWrittenA written four-character idiom stressing coldheartedness; its tone is stronger than 「冷酷」 alone.
• Synonym非人情ひにんじょうWrittenWritten and mostly literary: lacking human sympathy, detached. 「冷酷」 stresses cold cruelty.
• Synonym没義道もぎどうWrittenAn archaic word for brutal, inhumane conduct; rarely used in modern Japanese.
• Related冷淡れいたんNeutralCold and indifferent in manner; a milder degree than 「冷酷」.
• Related非人道的ひじんどうてきNeutralInhumane, violating humanitarian standards, as in 「非人道的な扱い」; 「冷酷」 stresses coldness of heart.
• Related冷酷無残れいこくむざんWrittenA written four-character idiom for coldhearted cruelty; stronger in tone than 「冷酷」.
• RelatedむごいNeutralCruel, or too horrible to watch, as in 「惨い仕打ち」; 「冷酷」 stresses the coldness of the heart.
• Related不人情ふにんじょうNeutralLacking human warmth or consideration; 「冷酷」 is heavier still.
• Related手ひどいてひどいNeutralDescribes a harsh, severe blow or treatment, as in 「手ひどい仕打ち」; 「冷酷」 describes the heart itself.
• RelatedつれないNeutralCold and unresponsive toward someone; 「冷酷」 is much stronger.
• Antonym温情おんじょうNeutralThe opposite of 「冷酷」 on the warm–cold scale: warmhearted kindness.
• Antonym優しいやさしいNeutralThe opposite of 「冷酷」 on the warm–cold scale: kind and gentle.
• Antonym暖かいあたたかいNeutralWhen written 「温かい」, it means warm and kind toward people; the opposite of 「冷酷」 in human warmth.

Use 「冷酷」 for a cold heart with no sympathy. For cruel means or acts pick 「残酷」 or 「残忍」; for cold, indifferent manners 「冷淡」 or 「つれない」; for treatment that violates human decency 「非人道的」. The four-character idioms 「冷酷無情」 and 「冷酷無残」 intensify it, and the antonyms are 「温情」, 「優しい」 and 「暖かい」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. むごたらしいこと。不人情ふにんじょう。無慈悲むじひ。