brunt

noun

ˈbrənt 

1

: the principal force, shock, or stress (as of an attack)

bear the brunt of the storm

the brunt of the struggle with the German army fell upon the Russians

—Walter Lippmann

2

: the greater part : burden

Synonyms of brunt

• weight
• body
• bulk
• core
• majority
• burden
• chief

Examples of brunt in a Sentence

the brunt of the responsibility fell on her shoulders

Recent Examples on the Web

So often, the players on the field are the ones who bear the brunt of the decisions made above them. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026

Why young workers bear the brunt The mechanism isn’t mysterious. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 June 2026

Smaller investors, drawn by the excitement, often bear the brunt of subsequent declines. — Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

Target has also been the subject of backlash over its actions on a number of social justice issues, and the brunt of that has fallen on Cornell. — Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 22 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing brunt

• the brunt of

Rhymes for brunt

• blunt
• bunt
• front
• grunt
• shunt
• stunt
• affront
• confront
• exeunt
• forefront
• lakefront
• manhunt

Kids Definition

brunt

noun

ˈbrənt 

: the main force or stress (as of an attack)

the brunt of the storm