brutalize

1 to make (someone) feel or behave more like an animal than a human being <three years in a prison camp so brutalized him that he couldn't remember how to eat with a fork> Synonyms animalize, bestialize, dehumanize Related Words abase, corrupt, debauch, degrade, demean, deprave, pervert, poison, profane, prostitute, subvert, warp; contaminate, pollute, taint; disgrace, humble, humiliate Near Antonyms dignify, exalt, honor; amend, improve; cleanse, purify, restore; respect; elevate, ennoble, uplift

2 to inflict physical or emotional harm upon <Red Cross workers reported that prisoners had been brutalized in truly shocking ways> Synonyms abuse, bully, ill-treat, ill-use, kick around, maltreat, manhandle, mess over [slang], mishandle, mistreat, misuseRelated Words molest, outrage, violate; harass, harm, hurt, injure, oppress, persecute, torment, torture; burn, sandbag, victimize, wrong; beat (up), mess (up), rough (up), work (over)Near Antonyms care (for), cherish, foster, nurture; baby, cater (to), coddle, favor, gratify, humor, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil