BRUTISH Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

brutish

adjective

ˈbrü-tish

Definition of brutish next

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

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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

Examples Sentences

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Recent Examples of brutish The case involves a brutish boyfriend (Gabriel Basso, who played J.D. Vance in Hillbilly Elegy… but don’t hold that against him) accused of beating his girlfriend (Francesca Eastwood) to death. —

David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2024 The long-haired blond and brutish god of symbiotes, Knull is locked away on an alien planet, and the bonding of Eddie and Venom is the literal key keeping him from escaping and unleashing a wave of annihilation. —

Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2024 Hamm’s action choreography meets the vast scope of his story, and even better, it’s complemented by a brutish and affecting ensemble of actors, including Goldshifteh Farahani, Rafe Spall and Jonah Hauer King. —

Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2024 Get Citation Request Reprint Permissions Just as one rotten apple can spoil a barrel, one brutish autocrat can spoil a political union. —

R. Daniel Kelemen, Foreign Affairs, 20 Sep. 2015 See all Example Sentences for brutish