brute 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbrüt How to pronounce brute (audio)
Definition of brutenext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

brute

2 of 2

noun

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

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2
as in villain
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person leave him alone, you brute!

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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 brute
Adjective
This is her answer, in part: In terms of brute force and repression, the grip of the dictatorship in Cuba is as tight as ever. — Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 24 Feb. 2025 The United States should never seek to match China’s brute force approach to economic power. — Steve Bowsher, Foreign Affairs, 24 Feb. 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
  1. brutal
  2. feral
  3. animal
  4. villain
  5. savage
  6. brutish
  7. creature
  8. monster
Adjective
  • The avalanche at Tunnel Creek in the Cascade Mountains involved a large group of ski industry professionals and resulted in three brutal fatalities.
    — Ashley Thess, Outdoor Life, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Conquest is a much more brutal Viltrumite than Nolan.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of brutal
Adjective
  • The gamine Ferran has an extraordinary feral, changeling quality.
    — Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Maddie is a feral woman with a lot of gumption, who is a fighter and a survivor.
    — Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of feral
Noun
  • The animals are native to eastern North America and didn’t first appear in the Pacific Northwest until the 1970s.
    — Alice Jones Webb, Outdoor Life, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Officials from Florida Fish and Wildlife subsequently arrived on scene and were able to trap and remove the animal from under the car before anybody got hurt.
    — Jon Haworth, ABC News, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of animal
Noun
  • In Lynch’s festering neo-noir mystery from 1987, Hopper plays a chronic villain perpetually sipping from a tank of amyl nitrate and handing out hits as a way to manipulate his henchmen.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The real villains, says Mozaffarian, are excessive amounts of refined grains, starches, and sugars, as well as salt and other preservatives, chemical additives, and contaminants from packaging.
    — Sarah Boden, NPR, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of villain
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of savage
Adjective
  • This disheartening reality augurs a future in which the prosperity of a few affluent enclaves depends in part on the rest of the globe becoming ever more nasty, brutish, and hot.
    — Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025
  • The dark and handsome Marinelli underwent a complete transformation, to play the brutish, balding Mussolini.
    — Gianmaria Tammaro, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2025
Definition of brutish
Noun
  • Back in 2013, the gelatinous sea creature was declared the world’s ugliest animal.
    — Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Nearby, kids were crouching to look into a clear tube tank and even adults were sliding on their backs under the adjacent upside-down jellyfish tank to snap a picture of these topsy-turvy creatures.
    — Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of creature
Noun
  • Fing turns out to be as much as a destructive monster as Myrtle, who in turn, must battle it out with the evil animal park owner, The Viscount (Waititi), determined to own this rarest of creatures.
    — Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Fing turns out to be as much as a destructive monster as Myrtle, who in turn, must battle it out with the evil animal park owner, The Viscount (Waititi), who is determined to own this rarest of creatures.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of monster

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Cite this Entry

“Brute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brute. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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