The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word VINDICTIVE
V
I
N
D
I
C
T
I
V
E
More clues leading to the result VINDICTIVE
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "cruel" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case cruel = vindictive.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does VINDICTIVE mean?
VINDICTIVE adjective- Having a tendency to seek revenge when wronged, vengeful.
- Punitive