Search results
The deliberate and malicious infliction of mental or physical pain upon persons or animals. As applied to people, cruelty encompasses abusive, outrageous, and inhumane treatment that results in the wanton and unnecessary infliction of suffering upon the body or mind.
Cruelty to animals generally means a malicious or criminally negligent act that causes an animal pain, suffering, or death. Cruelty to children, also called child abuse, is the willful infliction of pain and suffering on children through physical, sexual, or emotional mistreatment or neglect.
Find the legal definition of CRUELTY from Black's Law Dictionary, 2nd Edition. The Intentional and malicious infliction of physical suffering upon living creatures, particularly human beings; or, as applied to the latter, the wanton,...
pl:-ties1 a: an intentional or criminally negligent act that causes pain and suffering [ to animals] [ to children] b: mistreatment or neglect that causes pain and suffering compare abuse NOTE: Cruelty is an aggravating circumstance to a crime (as murder). 2: a spouse's conduct that endangers life or health or causes mental suffering or fear cal...
An action carried out purposely or due to severe negligence which leads to distress and agony. The process of treating someone badly or ignoring their needs that ultimately results in distress and pain.
n. the intentional and malicious infliction of physical or psychological pain on another. In most states various forms of "cruelty," "extreme cruelty," and/or "mental cruelty" used to be grounds for divorce if proved. This brought about a lot of unnecessary (and sometimes exaggerated or false) derog...
