brute-force

adjective

: relying on or achieved through the application of force, effort, or power in usually large amounts instead of more efficient, carefully planned, or precisely directed methods
… in fighting cancer they will substitute precisely targeted "magic bullets" for the present brute-force and often risky techniques of radiation and chemical therapy.Gene Bylinsky, Fortune, 27 Apr. 1987
Until now, the only way to gain faster performance has been to spin the disk faster. This brute-force approach, however, is limited.S. Jae Yang et al., PC Magazine, 1 Sept. 1998

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brute-force was in 1902

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Dictionary Entries Near brute-force

Cite this Entry

“Brute-force.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brute-force. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

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