1
: extremely cruel or harsh
a brutal military dictatorship
a brutal attack/murder/assault
brutal winter weather
Sailors sometimes faced brutal punishments like whipping.
a brutal struggle for survival in the wilderness
2
: very direct and accurate in a way that is harsh or unpleasant
The writer describes the dangers of drugs with brutal honesty.
The movie is a brutal depiction of the war.
3
informal
: very bad or unpleasant
The traffic was brutal on the way to work.
I had a brutal headache this morning.
Cite this Entry
“Brutal.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/brutal. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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