Synonyms of brunt
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 RussiansWalter Lippmann
2
: the greater part : burden

Examples of brunt in a Sentence

the brunt of the responsibility fell on her shoulders
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Gulf territories such as the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have borne the brunt of Iran’s retaliatory strikes but are pushing on with plans to expand to place in the international film business. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 12 May 2026 Asia, which is heavily reliant on the Middle East for energy, has borne the initial brunt of those higher prices. Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 12 May 2026 Southeast Asian nations, heavily reliant on Gulf oil, have borne the brunt of the energy shock triggered by the Middle East conflict. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 11 May 2026 American consumers, workers and small businesses who bore the brunt of the tariffs are being left out in the cold. Linda Sánchez, Oc Register, 9 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for brunt

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of brunt was in 1769

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Brunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brunt. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

brunt

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