1
as in brutal
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others
brute attacks on innocent civilians
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in feral
having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal
a man of brute instinct, he deals with conflict the only way he knows how—by physical force
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in animal
one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings
it is a fundamental sense of right and wrong that separates us from the brutes
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in villain
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
leave him alone, you brute!
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brute
TIME, 23 Mar. 2025
Rather than raids and brute force, the Trump administration must work with Congress on immigration reforms that benefit all Americans.
—Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
Dov Friedman, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2014
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
See All Example Sentences for brute
Adjective
Beyond that, Hamas’ only recourse to staying in power is brute force.
—TIME, 23 Mar. 2025
Rather than raids and brute force, the Trump administration must work with Congress on immigration reforms that benefit all Americans.
—Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
Maliki is a divisive brute whom Iran supports to the hilt.
—Dov Friedman, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2014
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
See All Example Sentences for brute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brute
Adjective
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But graduating in 2009 meant stepping into a brutal job market during the Great Recession.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Andrews adds musical interludes, which don’t always work, and brutal jokes, which do.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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According to the outlets, the 250-pound deceased pet was then entered into a feral pig hunting competition, in which the two men won $1,000 cash.—
Lesley Cosme Torres,
People.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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So, to our minds, this has been a very long, slow build towards Shauna as everything the Antler Queen represents, which is the most feral, the most animalistic, the most excited by that power that comes with being the leader and being out in the wilderness.—
Michaela Zee,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Deadly dog mauling Kansas City Police officers responded around 9:30 p.m. Nov. 2, 2024, to the Marlborough East neighborhood for a call about an animal bite incident.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
18 Apr. 2025
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Hantavirus strains in the U.S. are not transmissible from person to person but rather from animals to humans.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Children meet superheroes and villains, engage with games and movies, and are greeted by staff in costume.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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The soul patch, villain, and walrus facial hair all work with masks while mutton chops and chin curtain don’t.—
Lisa Wood Shapiro,
Wired News,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.—
Tom Yulsman,
Discover Magazine,
27 Dec. 2022
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The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2022
Adjective
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The first 54 holes at Palmer’s brutish layout proved those off their game will be exposed.—
Edgar Thompson,
Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2025
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But there’s nothing truly masculine about these brutish low-lifes who oppose everything that makes for responsible manhood.—
The Editors,
National Review,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The fifth movement is his funeral: a witches’ sabbath replete with monsters and creatures, with an undead version of his beloved as their ringleader.—
Angelica Frey,
JSTOR Daily,
9 Apr. 2025
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In the game, players take on the role of planeswalkers, powerful spellcasters who summon creatures, cast spells and use artifacts to defeat their opponents.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The space monsters are also entirely terrifying, gestating inside young suns to hideously emerge as massive space insects.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Natalie and a real-estate agent named Dawn (Danielle Brooks), in search of the missing Henry, make their way to the Overworld, too, and the four team up with Steve in a painfully generic adventure to fight off monsters, find another Crystal, save the Overworld (and Dennis), and get back home.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brute. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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