na-adjective
cold-hearted; merciless; ruthless
Rare literary term for extreme cruelty and lack of compassion. More common synonyms include 冷酷無情 or 残酷.
彼の酷薄無情な態度に、周囲は凍りついた。
Everyone froze at his cold-hearted and merciless attitude.
Compound of 酷薄 (cruel, harsh) and 無情 (heartless, unfeeling). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the spelling is conventionally associated with extreme ruthlessness.