残虐・惨虐|ざんぎゃくzangyaku[0]heiban (flat)

1. na-adjective, nouncruel; brutal; savage; barbarous
   警官けいかんたちはその残虐ざんぎゃくな殺人さつじん事件じけんの手掛てがかりを捜さがしている。↗

   The cops are searching for clues to the cruel murder.

• Synonym凶悪きょうあくNeutralVicious and evil, mostly describing criminals and crimes; stresses the wicked nature. 「残虐」 stresses the cruel means.
• Synonym無残むざんNeutralHorrific and tragic; stresses how miserable the outcome is, not necessarily the means of violence.
• Synonym残忍ざんにんNeutralCold-blooded cruelty; stresses heartlessness. The closest synonym to 「残虐」.
• Synonym残酷ざんこくNeutralCruelty in a broad sense; can also describe harsh reality, and does not require an agent inflicting violence.
• Synonym暴虐ぼうぎゃくWrittenWritten/formal: tyrannical cruelty, used of despotic rule and violent acts like 「暴虐な行為」; close to 「残虐」 but stresses tyranny.
• Synonym無情むじょうNeutralHeartless; stresses lack of sympathy, without necessarily any brutal act.
• Synonym非道ひどうWrittenWritten/formal: inhuman, against reason and human feeling; often in 「極悪非道」; stresses moral wrong.
• Synonym無慈悲むじひNeutralCold-hearted and merciless, with no compassion; 「残虐」 stresses the brutality of the means, such as abuse.
• Synonym非人道的ひじんどうてきWrittenWritten/formal: inhumane, violating human dignity; often used to judge weapons or acts, in an objective tone.
• Synonym酷薄こくはくWrittenWritten/formal: cold-hearted and callous; stresses an unfeeling attitude, not necessarily physical violence.
• Synonym酷悪こくあくWrittenWritten/formal and rare: extremely wicked; stresses an evil character.
• Synonym苛虐かぎゃくWrittenWritten/formal and rare: cruel treatment or abuse; stresses harsh treatment, close to 「残虐」.
• Related極悪ごくあくNeutralUnforgivably wicked; the stress is on how grave the evil is, not specifically on cruel means.
• Related凶暴きょうぼうNeutralFerocious; stresses a violent temperament, as of wild beasts, without necessarily any abuse.
• RelatedむごいNeutralA native Japanese word: cruel and ghastly; stresses cold-blooded methods, and is also used in speech.
• Related悪逆あくぎゃくWrittenWritten/formal with an archaic flavor: heinous treachery; stresses violation of moral bonds rather than cruel means.
• Related無道むどうWrittenWritten/formal: conduct against reason and morality, violent and unreasonable; 「残虐」 stresses the cruel means.
• Related猛悪もうあくWrittenWritten/formal and rare: ferocious and savage; stresses a fierce, violent nature.
• Related残忍性ざんにんせいNeutralA noun for a cruel, bloodthirsty nature; stresses innate disposition, as in 「残忍性を帯びる」.
• Related強暴きょうぼうWrittenWritten/formal: violent and overbearing; stresses using force and coercion.
• Related残忍酷薄ざんにんこくはくWrittenA set phrase, written/formal: cruel and heartless; heavy in tone, stressing coldness.
• Antonym慈悲じひNeutralAntonym: mercy and compassion, with a Buddhist flavor; the opposite of cruel 「残虐」.
• Antonym優しさNeutralAntonym: kindness and gentleness, an everyday word; the opposite of 「残虐」.

「残虐」 describes savage means — torture and killing — as in 「残虐な事件」「残虐行為」. For cold-blooded cruelty say 「残忍」, for cruelty in general 「残酷」, for heartlessness 「無慈悲」. 「凶悪」 stresses how evil a criminal or crime is; 「無残」 the misery of the result. Written options include 「暴虐」 (tyranny), 「非人道的」 (inhumane acts or weapons) and 「苛虐」 (abuse). 「凶暴」 and 「猛悪」 stress a ferocious temperament, 「無情」 and 「酷薄」 a lack of feeling. 「極悪」 marks the depth of evil; 「悪逆」 and 「非道」 a breach of moral bonds or principle. Opposites: 「慈悲」, 「優しさ」.

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

1. 人ひとや動物どうぶつに対たいし無慈悲むじひでむごたらしいこと。
2. 人ひとや動物どうぶつに対たいし無慈悲むじひでむごたらしいさま。