cruel

Intentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless.

The supervisor was very cruel to Josh, as he would always give Josh the hardest, most degrading work he could find.

Harsh; severe.

We're certainly having quite a cruel winter this year.

The thought that something might befall him that would leave her entirely at the mercy of this beast caused him greater anxiety than the probability that almost certain death awaited her should she be left entirely alone upon the outskirts of the cruel forest.

Cool; awesome; neat.

To a great degree; terribly.

"But I've served 'im ten years, and I'm fond of 'im, and, mind you, 'e's a great man, when all's said an' done, and it's an honor to serve 'im. But 'e does try one cruel at times."

'I've never got arthritis, though my old dad had it something cruel.'

To spoil or ruin (one's chance of success)

What cruelled him was that Imperial Hotel contract.

He was on the fringes of Test selection last year before a shoulder injury cruelled his chances.

To violently provoke (a child) in the belief that this will make them more assertive.

Violence is apparently introduced early by the practice of "cruelling": children even in their first months are physically punished and then encouraged to seek retribution by punishing the punisher.

[…] I was referring to the area where you were talking about this practice of cruelling; the pinching of babies, sometimes so hard that their skin breaks and may go septic.