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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to abuse
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
Red Cross workers reported that prisoners had been brutalized
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 brutalize
Hamas has brutalized Gazans for years, cynically using civilians as shields by building operating bases in hospitals and elementary schools.
—
Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
The characters’ demeanor is itself a comment on the numbness felt by people who’ve been brutalized in such surreal fashion for so long.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Jan. 2025
Trump has brutalized the media and is a big reason trust has eroded in the fourth estate.
—Nolan Finley, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2025
Inside the Auschwitz concentration camp complex, the soldiers liberated roughly 7,000 prisoners who had been brutalized by a Nazi regime hell-bent on exterminating the Jewish people.
—Jesse Kirsch, NBC News, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brutalize
Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
The characters’ demeanor is itself a comment on the numbness felt by people who’ve been brutalized in such surreal fashion for so long.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Jan. 2025
Trump has brutalized the media and is a big reason trust has eroded in the fourth estate.
—Nolan Finley, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2025
Inside the Auschwitz concentration camp complex, the soldiers liberated roughly 7,000 prisoners who had been brutalized by a Nazi regime hell-bent on exterminating the Jewish people.
—Jesse Kirsch, NBC News, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brutalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brutalize
Verb
-
Remember, Trump kicked off his political career by claiming Obama wasn't born here, and reportedly decided to run for president only after Obama humiliated him to his face at the White House Correspondents Dinner in 2011.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
19 Mar. 2025
-
In addition to the City of Hartford and Hartford School Board, the complaint named Tilda Santiago, a special education case manager who allegedly repeatedly bullied and harassed Ortiz by yelling and humiliating the teen in front of other students and teachers.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Authorities subsequently found that the boy and Ruby's 10-year-old daughter had been seriously abused.—
Liam Quinn,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
In May 2023, Attorney General Kwame Raoul published a 696-page report, which found that over about seven decades, at least 1,997 children have been abused by 451 Catholic clerics and religious brothers across the state’s dioceses.—
Natalie Demaree,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
So then, consent has been manufactured in the media to dehumanize and discriminate against trans people.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
6 Feb. 2025
-
The temptation to dehumanize our enemies and label them as animals or insects aids to justify further violence.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Once back, Jérémie can’t bear to leave, and Vincent, resentful of the intruder in his mother’s house, tries to bully him out.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2025
-
In a previous episode of the family's Bravo series, Sami revealed she was bullied for resembling her father, Charlie Sheen.—
Michelle Lee,
People.com,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The invisible, odorless gas is the leading cause of poisoning deaths in the United States, killing more than 400 Americans each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2025
-
Thousands each year are shot, poisoned to suffer, and trapped legally.—
James Powel,
USA TODAY,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
But Lively did believe she had been harassed and mistreated on set, the filing claims, making the defamation accusation false.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA TODAY,
20 Mar. 2025
-
In a series of posts on X Monday (March 17), the star clapped back at critics of her new music before calling out the way Black women have historically been mistreated.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
But, when the Evil Queen takes over, her dark manner and heavy-handed leadership oppress the people.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
20 Mar. 2025
-
That is not a typo—Saudi Arabia, the regime that oppressed Rahaf and millions of other women as a matter of state policy, is in charge of monitoring the rights of women worldwide.—
Agustina Vergara Cid,
Orange County Register,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Reyes Barrios, who marched in protests against the Maduro regime in February and March 2024, had been tortured by government officials.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA TODAY,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Maybe the two of them are held prisoner down there for a while, being tortured by Milchick (or whomever is brought in to replace him after two separate catastrophes have happened under his watch).—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brutalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutalize. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share