# crud vs cruel

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### crud
*noun · IPA /kɹʌd/ · frequency rank #45,306*
Dirt, filth or refuse.

### cruel
*adjective · IPA /ˈkɹuːəl/ · frequency rank #5,869*
Intentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crud-vs-cruel