German word

grausam

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈgʁaʊ̯zaːm/

Meaning

  • adjectivecruel

Example

Das war ein grausames Verbrechen.

That was a cruel crime.

Illustration for grausam (cruel)

More examples

Die Berichte beschrieben die grausame Behandlung der Gefangenen.

The reports described the cruel treatment of the prisoners.

Core concept

A ruthless person or act treats another's intense suffering as having no importance.

Common phrases

  • grausame Tat

    cruel act

  • grausamer Mord

    cruel murder

  • grausame Behandlung

    cruel treatment

Similar words

schrecklich: Being extremely unpleasant or frightening.
brutal: Using intense, merciless force or violence.
entsetzlich: Causing overwhelming shock or fear.
grauenhaft: Being horrifying and deeply unpleasant.

Definition in German

so, dass jemand anderem starke körperliche oder seelische Schmerzen zufügt oder großes Leid verursacht; ohne Mitleid

Word origin

The adjective developed from the Germanic root behind German Grauen, 'horror' or 'dread', combined with the adjective-forming suffix -sam.

Usage tips

  • Grausam describes cruelty, while the similar adjective grausig usually means gruesome, horrifying, or disgusting rather than cruel.

Other meanings

  • brutaladjective
  • ruthlessadjective

Opposites

  • menschlichhumaneadjective
  • barmherzigmercifuladjective

Related words

  • Grausamkeitcrueltynoun
  • grausamerweisecruellyadverb

Word lists with this word