1
as in harsh
difficult to endure
brutal hard labor in the hot sun
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cruel
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others
a brutal tyrant who drove his country to revolt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in brute
having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal
a coarse, brutal man who has no sense of what it means to be refined or sensitive or cultured
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of brutal
This year’s iteration of the toxic cycle — a brutal 109-90 loss at the United Center in the play-in tournament — highlighted every ugly weakness that has limited this Bulls roster for the last three years.
—
Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025
Unsurprisingly, the approach to a brutal gothic horror fantasy like Darkest Dungeon II is somewhat different.
—Alan Bradley, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2025
Fresh out of jail, a military veteran relocates to a small Ohio town where many of the residents have a horrifying social agenda, leading the hardened vet to enact his own brand of brutal justice.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2025
This thriller inspired by one of the most notorious unsolved murder cases of the 20th century — the Lord Lucan case — explores the effects of a brutal crime on the family of the alleged perpetrator.
—Bailey Seybolt, People.com, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brutal
Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025
Unsurprisingly, the approach to a brutal gothic horror fantasy like Darkest Dungeon II is somewhat different.
—Alan Bradley, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2025
Fresh out of jail, a military veteran relocates to a small Ohio town where many of the residents have a horrifying social agenda, leading the hardened vet to enact his own brand of brutal justice.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2025
This thriller inspired by one of the most notorious unsolved murder cases of the 20th century — the Lord Lucan case — explores the effects of a brutal crime on the family of the alleged perpetrator.
—Bailey Seybolt, People.com, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brutal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brutal
Adjective
-
Hope reigns even in this harsh political climate we Americans are now experiencing.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2025
-
With harsh conditions and adversaries threatening to end the Dutton legacy, Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) embarks on an arduous journey home, racing against time to save his family in Montana.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Everybody else has no choice, really, other than to bring a cruel, narcissistic far-right leader to power.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Jokes that didn’t land with the squad The kids in Bad Influence say the pranks were the most cruel.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Beyond that, Hamas’ only recourse to staying in power is brute force.—
TIME,
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
Adjective
-
Over the next two years, Muhammad rang up five more victories against progressively tougher competition.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
-
González also supports a tough stance on crime but has criticized Noboa’s use of foreign military contractors.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This was a vicious weaponization of your government.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Employees losing jobs because companies will lay off workers to off-set the expense of tariffs will also mean fewer customers buying goods and services, creating a vicious cycle that depresses both corporate revenues and economic growth.—
Solange Charas,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The Collector is also hoping these will satiate the growing wants of his oppressive overlord, The Forger (Roddy Ricch), who has mysterious motives of his own.—
Courtney Howard,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2025
-
The current war in Sudan involves civil strife and shifting allegiances, in which one oppressive regime was toppled by a coalition, which then turned in on itself, leading to an even more vicious war.—
Lawrence D. Freedman,
Foreign Affairs,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Adjective
-
Her viral speech in Minneapolis in 2020 remains one of the most searing indictments of state violence in recent memory.—
Sughnen Yongo,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Storms in the South can topple shade trees, opening yards to the searing summer sun.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brutal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutal. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share