Main Entry:

bru·tal

Pronunciation:

\ˈbrü-t^əl\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French, from Medieval Latin brutalis, from Latin brutus — more at brute

Date:

15th century

1archaic : typical of beasts : animal2: befitting a brute: as a: grossly ruthless or unfeeling <a brutal slander> b: cruel, cold-blooded <a brutal attack> c: harsh, severe <brutal weather> d: unpleasantly accurate and incisive <the brutal truth> e: very bad or unpleasant <a brutal mistake>

— bru·tal·ly \-t^əl-ē\ adverb

synonyms brutal, brutish, bestial, feral mean characteristic of an animal in nature, action, or instinct. brutal applies to people, their acts, or their words and suggests a lack of intelligence, feeling, or humanity <a senseless and brutal war>. brutish stresses likeness to an animal in low intelligence, in base appetites, and in behavior based on instinct <brutish stupidity>. bestial suggests a state of degradation unworthy of humans and fit only for beasts <bestial depravity>. feral suggests the savagery or ferocity of wild animals <the struggle to survive unleashed their feral impulses>.