〔無情な〕cruel;〔苛酷な〕harsh, severe;〔厳しい〕strict
- 酷な人
- a severe [cruel] person
- 酷な批評
- harsh [scathing] criticism
- 今すぐ借金を返せというのはいささか酷だ
- It's a bit cruel to demand (of him) immediate payment of his debts.
- 彼はずいぶん人を酷に扱う
- He treats people harshly [cruelly]./He is harsh [rough] on people.
- 酷な言い方だが彼女は自分の無能を悟るべきだ
- 「This is a blunt way to put it, but [To put it bluntly,] she ought to realize her own lack of ability.