brutal

adjective

bru·​tal ˈbrü-tᵊl 

1

: suitable to one who lacks intelligence, sensitivity, or compassion : befitting a brute: such as

a

: cruel, cold-blooded

a brutal attack

b

: harsh, severe

brutal weather

c

: unpleasantly accurate and incisive

the brutal truth

d

: very bad or unpleasant

a brutal mistake

e

: grossly ruthless or unfeeling

a brutal slander

2

archaic : typical of beasts : animal

thee, Serpent … to me so friendly grown above the rest of brutal kind

—John Milton

brutally

ˈbrü-tᵊl-ē 

adverb

Synonyms

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

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of brutal in a Sentence

Sailors sometimes faced brutal punishments like whipping.

a brutal struggle for survival in the wilderness

The writer describes the dangers of drugs with brutal honesty.

The movie is a brutal depiction of the war.

The traffic was brutal on the way to work.

I had a brutal headache this morning.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the sweltering heat of a Philippine afternoon, the world of boxing witnessed a brutal spectacle as Ali and Frazier fought each other for the third and final time in a clash of wills that etched itself into the annals of sporting history. —Reuters, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024

During a road trip in Episode 4 to his father’s hometown of Dillon, S.C., the comedian presses his dad on a number of sensitive topics, including his parents’ brutal reaction to him coming out. —Miriam Katz, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024

The war started after Hamas militants carried out a brutal cross-border incursion into Israel, killing at least 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. —Lior Soroka, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024

Jeremy Miller, 38, is charged with seven counts of attack by animal in connection with the brutal death of 63-year-old Sandra Miller, police said, ABC 4, KSL and FOX 13 report. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024

Patel’s injuries also affected the shoot, especially after the film’s brutal fight scenes left him with broken toes, an eye infection, and a shattered hand. —Devan Coggan, EW.com, 4 Apr. 2024

Born in what is today northwestern North Korea in 1920, Rev. Moon grew up in a thatched hut during the brutal Japanese occupation. —TIME, 4 Apr. 2024

But her life took a dark turn with a brutal assault at home. —Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024

The Kremlin’s brutal war in Ukraine, now in its third horrific year, has cost Russians dearly. —Matthew Chance, CNN, 24 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

brutal

adjective

bru·​tal ˈbrüt-ᵊl 

: being cruel and inhuman : savage

a brutal attack

brutally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb