brutal

bru·tal

adj \ˈbrü-t^əl\

Definition of BRUTAL

1

archaic : typical of beasts : animal

2

: 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

Examples of BRUTAL

1. Sailors sometimes faced brutal punishments like whipping.
2. a brutal struggle for survival in the wilderness
3. The writer describes the dangers of drugs with brutal honesty.
4. The movie is a brutal depiction of the war.
5. The traffic was brutal on the way to work.
6. I had a brutal headache this morning.

Origin of BRUTAL

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

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to BRUTAL

Synonyms: bitter, harsh, burdensome, cruel, excruciating, grievous, grim, hard, hardhanded, heavy, inhuman, murderous, onerous, oppressive, rough, rugged, searing, severe, stiff, tough, trying

Antonyms: easy, light, soft

Related Words: austere, bleak, comfortless, discomforting, forbidding, inhospitable, spartan, uncomfortable; biting, inclement, intemperate, wild; rigorous, strict, stringent; agonizing, heartbreaking, heartrending, painful, wretched; crushing, grinding, overwhelming, wearing; insufferable, insupportable, intolerable, unbearable, unendurable; harrowing, tortuous; bad, disagreeable, hostile, unfriendly, unpleasant

Near Antonyms: comfortable, cozy, luxurious, snug; agreeable, friendly, genial, hospitable, pleasant; peaceful, relaxing, reposeful, restful; bearable, endurable, painless, tolerable; balmy, calm, clement, gentle, mild, moderate, temperate

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Synonym Discussion of BRUTAL

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>.

Rhymes with BRUTAL

footle, futile, rootle, tootle, utile