noun, na-adjective
atrocious and cold-blooded; cruel; brutal; merciless
Describes a person, act, or nature that is both cruel and cold-hearted, often implying a lack of mercy or emotion.
彼の残忍冷酷なやり方に皆が震え上がった。
Everyone shuddered at his atrocious and cold-blooded methods.
その事件は残忍冷酷な犯行として報道された。
The incident was reported as a brutal and merciless crime.
Compound of 残忍 (ざんにん, 'brutal') and 冷酷 (れいこく, 'cold-blooded'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with the combined meaning.