Synonyms of brutish

brutish

adjective

ˈbrü-tish 

as in brute

having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal

as the months of recurrent combat dragged on, the daily existence of the soldiers became increasingly brutish

Synonyms & Similar Words

• brute
• brutal
• feral
• animalistic
• bestial
• savage
• beastly
• subhuman
• cruel
• animal
• vicious
• swinish
• physical
• sensual
• coarse
• ferine
• rude
• corporeal
• crass
• sadistic
• barbaric
• barbarous
• corporal
• vulgar
• carnal
• heartless
• inhumane
• bodily
• uncouth
• crude
• uncultured
• fleshly
• gross
• wanton
• unrefined
• uncultivated
• ill-bred
• lowbred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• noble
• sublime
• chivalrous
• gallant
• great
• high
• magnanimous
• lofty
• elevated
• spiritual
• lordly
• angelic
• high-minded
• benevolent
• kind
• compassionate
• beneficent
• kindly
• greathearted
• genteel
• angelical
• cultured
• polished
• refined
• kindhearted
• softhearted
• good-hearted
• cultivated
• benignant
• tenderhearted
• well-bred

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective brutish differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of brutish are bestial, brutal, and feral. While all these words mean "characteristic of an animal in nature, action, or instinct," brutish stresses likeness to an animal in low intelligence, in base appetites, and in behavior based on instinct.

brutish stupidity

In what contexts can bestial take the place of brutish?

In some situations, the words bestial and brutish are roughly equivalent. However, bestial suggests a state of degradation unworthy of humans and fit only for beasts.

bestial depravity

When is brutal a more appropriate choice than brutish?

The meanings of brutal and brutish largely overlap; however, brutal applies to people, their acts, or their words and suggests a lack of intelligence, feeling, or humanity.

a senseless and brutal war

When could feral be used to replace brutish?

The words feral and brutish can be used in similar contexts, but feral suggests the savagery or ferocity of wild animals.

the struggle to survive unleashed their feral impulses

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of brutish

Collier is a brutish guard who has had some Earl Campbell-esque bully-ball drives to the cup and can move his feet on defense. —John Hollinger, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024

The Baron announced his intentions to take over the new world, and when one woman tried to ask him a question, Laszlo’s brutish monster smashed her skull to bloody bits. —Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 2 Dec. 2024

That’s, the spice-rich planet where the brutish and cruel Harkonnens previously ruled and are threatening to take control once again. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 29 Feb. 2024

In the universe of Tina Fey, life in high school is nasty, brutish, and endlessly cyclical. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2024