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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in villain
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
leave him alone, you brute!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
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
-
The Cleveland Browns finally stopped the brutal NFL draft slide of quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Children meet superheroes and villains, engage with games and movies, and are greeted by staff in costume.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
-
The soul patch, villain, and walrus facial hair all work with masks while mutton chops and chin curtain don’t.—
Lisa Wood Shapiro,
Wired News,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
In the mountains of Papua New Guinea, researchers encountered a clownish creature perched on a log in a fern meadow, basking in the sun.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
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
-
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 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share