Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

酷烈 (こくれつ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

酷こく烈れつ

Meanings

1

na-adjective, noun

severity; harshness; intensity

Describes something extremely severe, harsh, or intense, such as weather, criticism, or conditions. Often used in formal or literary contexts.

今年ことしの夏なつの酷こく烈れつな暑あつさは記き録ろく的てきだった。
The intense heat this summer was record-breaking.

Kanji

酷cruel, severe, atrocious
烈ardent, violent, vehement

Related words

厳きびしい
厳しい is a common, everyday word for 'strict' or 'severe'. 酷烈 is more intense and formal, often implying an extreme or relentless quality.
過か酷こく
過酷 means 'excessive harshness' or 'cruelty', often with a nuance of unfairness. 酷烈 focuses on the sheer intensity or severity without necessarily implying injustice.

彼かれ

の

酷こく

烈れつ

な

批ひ

判はん

に

、

誰だれ

も

反はん

論ろん

でき

なかっ

た

。

No one could argue against his harsh criticism.

Etymology

Composed of 酷 (cruel, severe) and 烈 (violent, intense). The combination reinforces the idea of extreme severity. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is used in formal written Japanese.