utterly callous; atrociously brutal; cruel and inhuman
Strong literary or emphatic term describing extreme cruelty and lack of compassion. Often used in critical or dramatic contexts.
His utterly callous actions hurt many people.
The incident was reported as an atrociously brutal crime.
残忍 means 'cruel' or 'brutal' and is more common. 残忍非情 intensifies this by adding 非情 (heartless), making it stronger and more literary.
非情 means 'heartless' or 'cold-hearted'. 残忍非情 combines it with 残忍 to emphasize both cruelty and lack of mercy.
Compound of 残忍 (cruel, brutal) and 非情 (heartless, unfeeling). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination creates an emphatic term for extreme cruelty.