cruel treatment; harshness; oppression
Describes severe, merciless treatment, often in a social or political context. Can be used as a noun or adjectival noun.
The dictator imposed cruel policies on the people.
History records many acts of cruelty.
The kanji 苛 means 'torment' or 'harsh', and 虐 means 'oppress' or 'tyrannize'. The compound 苛虐 directly conveys the idea of cruel, oppressive treatment. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.