brutalize
verb
bru·tal·ize
ˈbrü-tᵊl-ˌīz 
brutalized; brutalizing
1
: to make brutal, unfeeling, or inhuman
temperaments brutalized by poverty and disease
2
: to treat brutally
an accord not to brutalize prisoners of war
Examples of brutalize in a Sentence
a young man brutalized by the experience of war
The prisoners claimed to have been brutalized by their captors.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alongside this, police forces have been mobilized, denying resources to civilians while also brutalizing them on the streets.
—
Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Apr. 2024
Syrian air defenses themselves are limited, meaning U.S. attacks are unlikely to be opposed, while Russia’s limited presence poses no immediate threat, since Russia has no escalation appetite now that it is wholly occupied brutalizing Ukraine.
—Seth Cropsey, National Review, 10 Feb. 2024
The two victims, Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker, were brutalized while held captive and handcuffed during a two-hour ordeal that started when the six officers invaded their home and ended with Mr. Jenkins shot in the mouth.
—Brendan O'Brien and Steve Gorman, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Mar. 2024
Several policemen were reported to have been killed, and ordinary civilians are being brutalized.
—Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2024
Black people were brutalized by enslavers and slave patrol during the colonial era.
—Maya Richard-Craven, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
To characterize it any other way disrespects every innocent victim who was brutalized and executed.
—Ted Deutch, Orange County Register, 31 Jan. 2024
Despite an absence of blood and gore, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre's unbridled violence triggered bans in multiple countries and ignited controversy for brutalizing women.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 27 Oct. 2023
Many Americans were happy to see the Nazis and the Communists brutalize each other.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Apr. 2024
Syrian air defenses themselves are limited, meaning U.S. attacks are unlikely to be opposed, while Russia’s limited presence poses no immediate threat, since Russia has no escalation appetite now that it is wholly occupied brutalizing Ukraine.
—Seth Cropsey, National Review, 10 Feb. 2024
The two victims, Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker, were brutalized while held captive and handcuffed during a two-hour ordeal that started when the six officers invaded their home and ended with Mr. Jenkins shot in the mouth.
—Brendan O'Brien and Steve Gorman, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Mar. 2024
Several policemen were reported to have been killed, and ordinary civilians are being brutalized.
—Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2024
Black people were brutalized by enslavers and slave patrol during the colonial era.
—Maya Richard-Craven, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
To characterize it any other way disrespects every innocent victim who was brutalized and executed.
—Ted Deutch, Orange County Register, 31 Jan. 2024
Despite an absence of blood and gore, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre's unbridled violence triggered bans in multiple countries and ignited controversy for brutalizing women.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 27 Oct. 2023
Many Americans were happy to see the Nazis and the Communists brutalize each other.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brutalize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Brutalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brutalize. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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