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
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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of brutalize
The Ramsey family have been so brutalized for close to 30 years.
—
Addie Morfoot, Variety, 24 Nov. 2024
But the biggest question is why this community was brutalized in the first place.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
Under Osborne and Devaney, the ’Husker offensive line battered, brutalized and bludgeoned opponents into submission.
—Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Dec. 2024
While the future of Syria is a daunting question mark, the fall of the Assad dynasty, which has brutalized the Syrian people for more than 50 years, offers respite to its many, many victims and their families.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for brutalize 
Addie Morfoot, Variety, 24 Nov. 2024
But the biggest question is why this community was brutalized in the first place.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
Under Osborne and Devaney, the ’Husker offensive line battered, brutalized and bludgeoned opponents into submission.
—Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Dec. 2024
While the future of Syria is a daunting question mark, the fall of the Assad dynasty, which has brutalized the Syrian people for more than 50 years, offers respite to its many, many victims and their families.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for brutalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brutalize
Verb
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My neighbor invited me to dinner, then humiliated me in front of the other women Miss Manners: Strangers keep telling me distressing stories.—
Judith Martin,
The Mercury News,
14 Jan. 2025
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The Ravens, particularly bruising runner Derrick Henry, humiliated the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night.—
Tim Graham,
The Athletic,
13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Saturday afternoon, officers responded to a call reporting a coyote pup being abused in the 10800 block of South Sacramento Avenue by three males, Chicago police said, Officers discovered a dead pup on private property and the coyote was removed..—
Deanese Williams-Harris,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2025
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The Star Tribune reports that the mother of two met a group of 15-year-old hockey players from Colorado in a hotel hot tub and later abused two of them in their room.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Strong voices are good, but voices that hijack the conversation with an agenda and dehumanize other participants are not.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2025
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Black people have for centuries called for more factual reporting that reflects their actual lives, because mainstream news has long criminalized and dehumanized their communities.—
Anita Varma,
The Conversation,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Following his father's death, Diddy and his mother were left with money that afforded them a lifestyle unlike their peers, and Diddy was often bullied by his peers for being a rich kid in class.—
Tracy Wright,
Fox News,
19 Jan. 2025
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The first of those will identify what bullying is and how students can interrupt it.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
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These operations are often controlled by cartels and poison the surrounding natural environment with toxic chemicals.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
16 Jan. 2025
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In 2015, the Tribune reported on a broader phenomenon of lead poisoning plaguing children living in some of the poorest Chicago neighborhoods.—
Lizzie Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
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An investigation has been launched after a viral social media post allegedly showed a Border Patrol agent mistreating a K9 at the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint in Texas.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Jan. 2025
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The film is in part about how men get away with mistreating women around them.—
Nicholas Kristof,
The Mercury News,
29 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The Wasserstrom award, named after a founder of the annual interfaith service, recognizes work on behalf of minority groups and oppressed people.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee,
Kansas City Star,
20 Jan. 2025
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But Princess Ilana never got such flashbacks, because she wasn’t abused or oppressed by society.—
Christian Holub,
EW.com,
9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Set during Brazil's military dictatorship in the 1970s, the film tells the story of Eunice, a mother of five who must rebuild her life after her husband Rubens, a politician opposing the regime, is tortured, killed, and listed among the Desaparecidos.—
Amanda Castro,
Newsweek,
23 Jan. 2025
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And she's long been tortured by their disappearance.—
Taylor Wilson,
USA TODAY,
21 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Brutalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutalize. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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