Cruel WSJ Crossword Clue

By Narcissa Kh / February 17, 2026

Crossword Answer

1 ? S

2 ? A

3 ? D

4 ? I

5 ? S

6 ? T

7 ? I

8 ? C

Hint

Interactive Solver for Cruel Crossword Clue

Drag letters from the pool into “Your Answer”, then reorder them to match the solution.

Your Answer 8 Letter

Current guess: —

Letter Pool

Need a helpful nudge?

Unlock the puzzle's secrets with Daze's progressive hints!

Hint 1

hint

Reveal Hint

Think of someone who takes pleasure in others' discomfort, much like a notorious French nobleman.

Hint 2

meaning

Reveal Hint

???????? means deriving pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others.

Hint 3

explanation

Reveal Hint

The clue 'Cruel' suggests a level of enjoyment in causing pain or suffering to others, which aligns with the meaning of '????????.' The term is derived from the name of the Marquis de Sade, who was known for his writings on sexual cruelty.

WSJ Crossword February 17 2026 Answers

Tap a cell to show its letter

1 ? H
2 ? A
3 ? R
4 ? D
5 ? P
6 ? O
7 ? E
8 ? M
9 ? P
10 ? O
11 ? O
12 ? L
13 ? S
14 ? A
? C
? H
? E
15 ? A
? M
? I
? E
16 ? O
? N
? S
? E
? T
17 ? S
? T
? O
? C
18 ? K
? Y
? A
? R
? D
19 ? L
? E
? A
? V
? E
20 ? E
? N
? T
? R
? E
? A
21 ? T
22 ? I
? K
? E
? A
23 ? C
24 ? A
? M
? E
? O
25 ? Y
? A
26 ? R
? D
? A
? R
? M
27 ? A
? R
? M
? B
? A
? N
28 ? D
29 ? K
? A
? A
30 ? M
? O
? P
? E
? D
31 ? R
32 ? A
33 ? V
? E
? N
34 ? C
35 ? P
36 ? A
37 ? I
? C
? E
? R
38 ? S
? A
? L
? E
? S
39 ? S
? O
? O
? N
40 ? D
? I
? D
41 ? L
? A
? G
? E
? R
42 ? S
? A
? M
? B
? A
43 ? S
? E
? T
44 ? B
45 ? A
? N
? D
? B
? O
? X
46 ? B
47 ? O
48 ? X
? W
? O
? O
49 ? D
50 ? N
? O
? I
? S
? Y
51 ? E
? P
? E
? E
52 ? N
? O
53 ? S
54 ? H
? O
? W
? S
55 ? T
? E
? R
? R
56 ? Y
57 ? W
? O
? O
? D
? S
? T
58 ? O
59 ? C
60 ? K
61 ? T
? R
? O
? V
? E
62 ? E
? D
? G
? E
63 ? I
? N
? C
? A
64 ? Y
? A
? X
? E
? S
65 ? L
? A
? S
? S
66 ? C
? O
? S
? T

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Clue Analysis

The clue “Cruel” is a classic crossword staple, frequently appearing in puzzles like the WSJ crossword. For the puzzle dated February 17 2026, the definitive 8-letter answer is: SADISTIC.

Expert Tip: When you’re stuck, try to analyze the structure of the clue itself. Is it a direct definition, a pun, a fill-in-the-blank, or a pop culture reference? Identifying the type of clue you’re dealing with is a key skill for improving your solving speed.

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Your Questions, Answered by Experts.

At Daze Puzzle, we understand that every clue is a puzzle within a larger puzzle. Our team of dedicated human experts and puzzle lovers solves these challenges daily to help you succeed. Below, we answer common questions about this specific clue.

A: The most common and recent 8-letter answer for "Cruel" is SADISTIC.

A: The clue 'Cruel' suggests a level of enjoyment in causing pain or suffering to others, which aligns with the meaning of 'SADISTIC.' The term is derived from the name of the Marquis de Sade, who was known for his writings on sexual cruelty.

A: This clue was last seen in the WSJ Crossword on February 17, 2026.

A: SADISTIC means deriving pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others.

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Cruel WSJ Crossword Clue

Crossword Answer

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