brute

1 of 2

adjective

ˈbrüt 

1

: of or relating to beasts

the ways of the brute world

2

: inanimate sense 1a

a brute object

3

: characteristic of an animal in quality, action, or instinct: such as

a

: cruel, savage

brute violence

b

: not working by reason

brute instinct

4

: purely physical

brute strength

brute force

5

: unrelievedly harsh

brute facts

brute necessity

brute

2 of 2

noun

1

: beast

2

: one who lacks intelligence, sensitivity, or compassion : a brutal person

Synonyms

Adjective

• atrocious
• barbaric
• barbarous
• brutal
• butcherly
• cruel
• fiendish
• heartless
• inhuman
• inhumane
• sadistic
• savage
• truculent
• vicious
• wanton

Noun

• animal
• beast
• beastie
• creature
• critter

Examples of brute in a Sentence

Adjective

They used brute force to open the door.

the brute fact of getting old

Noun

Let go of me, you brute!

it is a fundamental sense of right and wrong that separates us from the brutes

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Fast and fun, its cars and SUVs combined the old-timey brute power of big-displacement gasoline engines with the sophistication of modern chassis engineering and electronics. —Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 12 Dec. 2024

The broader context here is that Boston Dynamics has an exceptionally capable humanoid platform capable of advanced and occasionally painful-looking whole-body motion behaviors along with some relatively basic and brute force-y manipulation. —IEEE Spectrum, 16 Oct. 2024

Noun

One million doctors to give care, 1.4 million brutes in cubicles doing their best to stop doctors from giving that care. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024

The Illinois brute stretches the tape to 205 inches. —Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English brut "like an animal, not human," borrowed from Middle French, borrowed from Latin brūtus "heavy, inert, devoid of intelligence or feeling, brutish," going back to Indo-European *g^wr̥h₂-u-to-, derivative of a base *g^werh₂-u- "heavy" — more at grave entry 2

Note: Latin brūtus, with b- representing Indo-European *g^w-, is taken to be a loan from another Italic language, presumably Oscan. The literal sense "heavy" was largely lost, though compare brūtum pondus "dead weight" in Lucretius, and the grammarian Festus's comment that "the ancients said brutus for gravis ['heavy']" ("brutum antiqui gravem dicebant").

Noun

derivative of brute entry 1, perhaps after Medieval Latin brūtum "brute animal"

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

brute

1 of 2 adjective

ˈbrüt 

1

: of or relating to beasts

2

: typical of beasts : like that of a beast

brute force

brute strength

brute

2 of 2 noun

1

: animal entry 1 sense 2a

2

: a brutal person