1
as in brutal
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others
brute attacks on innocent civilians
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in feral
having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal
a man of brute instinct, he deals with conflict the only way he knows how—by physical force
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in animal
one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings
it is a fundamental sense of right and wrong that separates us from the brutes
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2
as in villain
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
leave him alone, you brute!
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brute
TIME, 23 Mar. 2025
Rather than raids and brute force, the Trump administration must work with Congress on immigration reforms that benefit all Americans.
—Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
Dov Friedman, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2014
One million doctors to give care, 1.4 million brutes in cubicles doing their best to stop doctors from giving that care.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for brute
Adjective
Beyond that, Hamas’ only recourse to staying in power is brute force.
—TIME, 23 Mar. 2025
Rather than raids and brute force, the Trump administration must work with Congress on immigration reforms that benefit all Americans.
—Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
Maliki is a divisive brute whom Iran supports to the hilt.
—Dov Friedman, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2014
One million doctors to give care, 1.4 million brutes in cubicles doing their best to stop doctors from giving that care.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for brute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brute
Adjective
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This high school student completed a brutal swim across New Zealand's 13.67-mile Cook Strait 02:16 CNN — Maya Merhige eventually stopped counting her jellyfish stings, such was the frequency with which they were getting scorched against her skin.—
George Ramsay,
CNN Money,
30 Apr. 2025
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Domestic overcapacity and brutal internal competition have already pushed Chinese firms to expand abroad in search of profit margins.—
Zongyuan Zoe Liu,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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According to the outlets, the 250-pound deceased pet was then entered into a feral pig hunting competition, in which the two men won $1,000 cash.—
Lesley Cosme Torres,
People.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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So, to our minds, this has been a very long, slow build towards Shauna as everything the Antler Queen represents, which is the most feral, the most animalistic, the most excited by that power that comes with being the leader and being out in the wilderness.—
Michaela Zee,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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However, China said in its paper that a past joint study conducted with the World Health Organization (WHO) found that COVID-19 was most likely transmitted from bats to humans via another animal.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2025
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Plants and pollinators can get out of sync Plants and their pollinators face another problem as the rate of climate change increases: Many plants rely on insects and other animals for seed and pollen dispersal.—
Courtney McGinnis,
The Conversation,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Grizzlies were a gritty team by nature, and Brooks was indeed a villain.—
Kelly Iko,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
-
With its ability to grow through asphalt and structural material, survive up to 20 years in total darkness and uproot the foundation of homes, Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) could be the villain in a horror movie.—
Martha Proctor,
Mercury News,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.—
Tom Yulsman,
Discover Magazine,
27 Dec. 2022
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The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2022
Adjective
-
Her battle with the disease was nasty, brutish, and prolonged.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
16 Apr. 2025
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The first 54 holes at Palmer’s brutish layout proved those off their game will be exposed.—
Edgar Thompson,
Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Niharika Desai directed the documentary, which follows the Giant Pacific Octopus and the people whose lives have been impacted in some way by the creature.—
Abigail Lee,
Variety,
22 Apr. 2025
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There are no Jedis, no secrets about Darth Vader's past for Reddit sleuths to hunt down, no adorable creatures to slap on backpacks and lunchboxes.—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Switch was a monster, so the assumption is that sure, players will pay a full 50% more for a new one, if not more.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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The trailer depicts sequences involving multiple predators fighting or threatening one another, Elle Fanning looking very strange and cool as an android, and glimpses of new monsters and the alien world the movie focuses on.—
John Timmer,
ArsTechnica,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brute. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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