brute

1 of 2

adjective

ˈbrüt 

1

: of or relating to beasts

the ways of the brute world

2

: inanimate sense 1a

a brute object

3

: characteristic of an animal in quality, action, or instinct: such as

a

: cruel, savage

brute violence

b

: not working by reason

brute instinct

4

: purely physical

brute strength

brute force

5

: unrelievedly harsh

brute facts

brute necessity

brute

2 of 2

noun

1

: beast

2

: one who lacks intelligence, sensitivity, or compassion : a brutal person

Synonyms

Adjective

• atrocious
• barbaric
• barbarous
• brutal
• butcherly
• cruel
• fiendish
• heartless
• inhuman
• inhumane
• sadistic
• savage
• truculent
• vicious
• wanton

Noun

• animal
• beast
• beastie
• creature
• critter

Examples of brute in a Sentence

Adjective

They used brute force to open the door.

the brute fact of getting old

Noun

Let go of me, you brute!

it is a fundamental sense of right and wrong that separates us from the brutes

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

What’s needed to achieve this in the US is brute lobbying power. —Jan Dutkiewicz, Vox, 8 Aug. 2024

And his brute, thrusting fire — the shaft of his flesh — shall permeate the atmosphere and shall be grasped by your eager flesh. —Alex Bhattacharji, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2024

Noun

The part originally played by Timothy Olyphant has been taken over by Adam Driver—a specialist in magnetic brutes—whose recent movie roles have tended to be titular titans of industry and/or guys with accents. —Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024

Minorities like the Kurds and Yezidis saw IS as a bunch of messianic, bloodthirsty brutes who sought to wipe out their communities. —Daniel Depetris, TIME, 28 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English brut "like an animal, not human," borrowed from Middle French, borrowed from Latin brūtus "heavy, inert, devoid of intelligence or feeling, brutish," going back to Indo-European *g^wr̥h₂-u-to-, derivative of a base *g^werh₂-u- "heavy" — more at grave entry 2

Note: Latin brūtus, with b- representing Indo-European *g^w-, is taken to be a loan from another Italic language, presumably Oscan. The literal sense "heavy" was largely lost, though compare brūtum pondus "dead weight" in Lucretius, and the grammarian Festus's comment that "the ancients said brutus for gravis ['heavy']" ("brutum antiqui gravem dicebant").

Noun

derivative of brute entry 1, perhaps after Medieval Latin brūtum "brute animal"

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

brute

1 of 2 adjective

ˈbrüt 

1

: of or relating to beasts

2

: typical of beasts : like that of a beast

brute force

brute strength

brute

2 of 2 noun

1

: animal entry 1 sense 2a

2

: a brutal person