無残・無惨・無慚・無慙|むざんmuzan[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. na-adjective, nouncruel; merciless; atrocious; ruthless; cold-blooded
2. na-adjective, nounpitiful; tragic; horrible; miserable
   コメディアンは無惨むざんな死しや大事故だいじこといった悲劇的ひげきてき状況じょうきょうを冗談じょうだんのネタにしている。↗

   Comedians base their jokes on tragic situations like violent death or serious accidents.
3. noun, na-adjective, Buddhismbreaking a precept without shame

• SynonymひどいNeutralThe same word as 「むごい」; it also describes a tragic fate, as in 「むごい運命」, and in that use sits close to 「無残」.
• Synonym残虐ざんぎゃくWrittenBrutal, savage cruelty; centers on the violent act itself rather than the outcome; written/formal prose.
• Synonym残忍ざんにんNeutralCold-blooded cruelty; describes the perpetrator's ruthless disposition and does not stress the outcome.
• Synonym残酷ざんこくNeutralCruelty in a broad sense; also describes a harsh reality, and does not necessarily imply a gruesome outcome.
• Synonym無情むじょうNeutralHeartlessness; stresses a lack of sympathy and can also mean lifeless or inanimate; says nothing about the outcome.
• Synonym非道ひどうWrittenInhuman conduct that defies decency; written/formal prose, often in 「極悪非道」, and judged on moral grounds.
• Synonym凶悪きょうあくNeutralVicious and atrocious; mostly describes criminals; stresses how vile their nature is, not the gruesome scene.
• SynonymむごいNeutralCruel, or too horrible to watch; a native word that covers both cruel acts and dreadful scenes, while 「無残」 stresses the result being unbearable to look at.
• Synonym無慈悲むじひNeutralCold-blooded and merciless; stresses the lack of compassion and does not dwell on how gruesome the scene is.
• SynonymむごたらしいNeutralCruel beyond bearing; stronger in tone than 「むごい」, and it highlights the gruesome scene itself.
• Synonym酷薄こくはくWrittenCold and callous; stresses a heartless, unfeeling attitude; written/formal prose, with no sense of a gruesome scene.
• Synonym非人道的ひじんどうてきWrittenInhumane, violating basic humanity; written/formal prose, often used to judge acts or weapons in an objective tone.
• Synonym苛虐かぎゃくWrittenCruel treatment or abuse; a rare written word; stresses the harsh treatment inflicted on others.
• Synonym無道むどうWrittenWritten/formal prose; conduct that defies reason or morality, as in 「無道な行い」; fits both oppressive rule and ordinary acts.
• Synonym没義道もぎどうWrittenBrutal inhumanity; written but old-fashioned and rare; stresses heartlessness.
• Synonym酷悪こくあくWrittenUtterly wicked; a rare written word; stresses an evil nature rather than any gruesome result.
• Related暴虐ぼうぎゃくWrittenTyranny and atrocity; mostly used for a tyrant's oppressive rule; stresses the wanton use of violence.
• Related過酷かこくNeutralHarsh, punishing conditions, as in 「過酷な労働」; stresses how severe the environment is.
• Related極悪ごくあくNeutralHeinous, beyond the pale; stresses the enormity of the evil or crime, not the gruesome result.
• Related陰惨いんさんWrittenGhastly and gloomy; stresses a dismal, oppressive atmosphere, as in 「陰惨な事件」.
• Related凄惨せいさんWrittenWritten/formal prose; ghastly and horrifying, as in 「凄惨な現場」 or 「凄惨な生活」.

Use 「無残」 for results so tragic they are hard to look at, as in 「無残な姿」 or 「見るも無残」. For brutal means of violence say 「残虐」, for cold-blooded cruelty 「残忍」, for ghastly, horrifying scenes 「凄惨」, and for harsh conditions 「過酷」. Many of the others are rare written words, or describe the doer's character rather than the scene.

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

1. 残酷ざんこくなこと。いたましいこと。あわれなこと。また、そのさま。「見みるも無残むざんな光景こうけい」