brutality
noun
bru·tal·i·ty
brü-ˈta-lə-tē 
plural brutalities
1
: the quality or state of being brutal
2
: a brutal act or course of action
Examples of brutality in a Sentence
the brutalities of a prison
the police were accused of brutality for using excessive force in making arrests
Recent Examples on the Web
District Judge Dayna Blazey delivered the ruling before a packed courtroom, closing a dark chapter for the men, their families and a city long haunted by the brutality of the crime.
—
Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
The declaration was aimed at closing a dark chapter for the men and their families, and for a city that was shaken by the brutality of the crime and investigators' inability to solve it for decades.
—CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
The declaration was aimed at closing a dark chapter for the men and their families, and for a city that was shaken by the brutality of the crime and investigators’ inability to solve it for decades.
—Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
This is due to the relatively large numbers of extrajudicial killings – that is, death by a state agent without due process, alongside physical integrity rights violations, including political imprisonment and torture, in the form of police brutality.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brutality
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Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
The declaration was aimed at closing a dark chapter for the men and their families, and for a city that was shaken by the brutality of the crime and investigators' inability to solve it for decades.
—CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
The declaration was aimed at closing a dark chapter for the men and their families, and for a city that was shaken by the brutality of the crime and investigators’ inability to solve it for decades.
—Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
This is due to the relatively large numbers of extrajudicial killings – that is, death by a state agent without due process, alongside physical integrity rights violations, including political imprisonment and torture, in the form of police brutality.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brutality
Cite this Entry
“Brutality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brutality. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
brutality
noun
bru·tal·i·ty
brü-ˈtal-ət-ē
plural brutalities
1
: the quality or state of being brutal
2
: a brutal act or course of action
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