Lack of compassion; coldheartedness or cruelty; often used in written or formal contexts.
彼は冷酷な判断で会社の再建を進めた。
He advanced the company's restructuring with a ruthless decision.
冷酷な態度に周囲の人々が驚いた。
People around were surprised by his coldhearted attitude.
あの小説に出てくる悪役は本当に冷酷だ。
The villain in that novel is truly cruel.