A more thorough explanation:

Extreme cruelty

Extreme cruelty is a type of divorce where one spouse claims that the other spouse has caused them physical or mental harm. This type of divorce is only available in a few states that still allow fault divorces. Extreme cruelty can include a wide range of behaviors, such as domestic violence, yelling, bad credit, or not having a job. The definition of extreme cruelty varies by state.

• A husband hits his wife and causes her physical harm.
• A wife constantly belittles her husband and causes him emotional distress.
• A spouse spends all of the couple's money and ruins their credit score.

These examples illustrate extreme cruelty because they involve one spouse causing harm to the other spouse, either physically or mentally. In the first example, the husband's physical violence is extreme cruelty. In the second example, the wife's emotional abuse is extreme cruelty. In the third example, the spouse's financial irresponsibility is extreme cruelty because it causes harm to the other spouse's financial well-being.

It's important to note that not all states allow extreme cruelty as a reason for divorce, and the definition of extreme cruelty can vary by state. In some states, extreme cruelty may be a factor in determining property division or child custody.