Cool MateCruel vs Winters in __ are murder
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Cruel
Top 2,000 (common)B1adjective
Winters in __ are murder
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: CruelMost common: Cruel
| Cruel | Winters in __ are murder | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkruːəl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkruːəl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈwɪntəz ɪn əˈmɜːdə//🇺🇸 //ˈwɪntərz ɪn əˈmɜrdər// |
| Meaning | Very bad or causing pain to others. | Winters in this place are very harsh. |
| Example | The cruel winter left many people struggling to survive. | Winters in New York are murder for those not used to the cold. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, seem, sound, extremely, fairly, very, to, be, seem, sound, extremely, fairly, very, to | winters are tough, murderous cold, harsh winters, frigid temperatures |
| Antonyms | kind, gentle, humane | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'cruel' with 'cool' when spoken., Using 'cruel' to describe minor annoyances., Assuming 'cruel' can only apply to people, not actions or situations. | Confusing with 'Winters in __ are hard' which is less expressive., Using in very formal writing, where it's not appropriate. |
| Usage notes | Use 'cruel' to describe actions or behaviors that cause pain or distress, often applied to people or situations. Avoid using it in overly casual contexts where a lighter term might suffice. | This phrase is used to emphasize the severity of winter. It's informal and often used in conversation or storytelling. |
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Frequently asked questions: Cruel vs Winters in __ are murder
What's the difference between Cruel and Winters in __ are murder?
Cruel: Very bad or causing pain to others. Winters in __ are murder: Winters in this place are very harsh.
Which is more formal: Cruel and Winters in __ are murder?
Cruel is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Cruel and Winters in __ are murder?
Cruel is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Cruel: The cruel winter left many people struggling to survive. Winters in __ are murder: Winters in New York are murder for those not used to the cold.
Can I use Cruel and Winters in __ are murder interchangeably?
Not always. Cruel and Winters in __ are murder are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.