1
as in to humiliate
to make (someone) feel or behave more like an animal than a human being
even three years in a prison camp did not brutalize him
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to abuse
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
Red Cross workers reported that prisoners had been brutalized
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brutalize
This regime brutalized and tortured and killed literally hundreds of thousands of innocent Syrians.
—
Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Particularly since the same poisonous influences that brutalized mostly peculiar women 400 years ago are alive and well today.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2025
Hamas is no different than ISIS or al Qaeda or any of the worst of the worst that has so brutalized the Middle East over the years.
—CBS News, 19 Jan. 2025
And no wonder: Police, security operatives, and soldiers in Venezuela also have relatives who have been brutalized by the regime.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for brutalize
Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Particularly since the same poisonous influences that brutalized mostly peculiar women 400 years ago are alive and well today.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2025
Hamas is no different than ISIS or al Qaeda or any of the worst of the worst that has so brutalized the Middle East over the years.
—CBS News, 19 Jan. 2025
And no wonder: Police, security operatives, and soldiers in Venezuela also have relatives who have been brutalized by the regime.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for brutalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brutalize
Verb
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In one sentence, Hegseth turned a conflict, in which Moscow had been roundly diminished and humiliated for three years, into the chaotic re-ordering of continental security, in which Moscow may somehow dominate to its west.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN,
24 Feb. 2025
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Zachary Basu Feb 15, 2025 - Politics & Policy Trump strangles Europe President Trump stunned, strangled and humiliated Europe — leaving America's closest continental ally dazed and dumbfounded.—
Courtenay Brown,
Axios,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The suit alleged Combs raped, drugged and physically abused her, the latter claim being supported by a 2016 hotel video obtained and released by CNN last year of the music producer dragging and hitting the singer.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA TODAY,
20 Feb. 2025
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While fentanyl is not widely abused in Mexico, methamphetamine addiction is commonplace.—
Greg Wehner,
Fox News,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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To strip her name from her and contort it into a term that is most often used to degrade artists who look like her is simply dehumanizing.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
11 Feb. 2025
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Mukherjee explained in a phone interview that these pieces were intended to be satire on how technology is dehumanizing humans.—
Riddhi Doshi,
CNN,
28 Jan. 2025
Verb
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For nothing is more European, at least in today’s Europe, than being bullied by Russia while complaining about the United States.—
Dominic Green,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
21 Feb. 2025
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Hal was always bullied by his slightly older twin brother, Bill.—
Brian Davids,
The Hollywood Reporter,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Lula was to be poisoned, while Moraes was to be shot by special forces, according to the indictment.—
Brady Knox,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
19 Feb. 2025
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Bolsonaro, the former far-right leader, is accused of plotting a coup to stay in power, inciting violence and hatching a plan to poison the current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Having two more women from the production allegedly claim they were likewise mistreated by the director could push the saga from being perceived as a bitter feud into literal #MeToo territory.—
Pamela McClintock,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Feb. 2025
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The passengers survive a terrible storm before landing where they will be mistreated.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2025
Verb
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My piece is about all of the bills being passed to oppress the identities of people who don’t fit into society’s idea of men and women, let alone people outside the gender binary.—
The Learning Network,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2025
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In this sense, the Mormon leader purports to advance both the formal law of the land on Utah Territory and more elemental notions of justice — even while simultaneously playing the role of both oppressor and oppressed.—
Michael M. Rosen,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Investigation:Slain transgender man Sam Nordquist was tortured for weeks, police say; 5 people arrested What was the motive behind the attack?—
Julia Gomez,
USA TODAY,
17 Feb. 2025
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For a month and a half, the men were tortured and abused.—
Lauren Green,
Fox News,
16 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to brutalize
Cite this Entry
“Brutalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutalize. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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