1
as in harsh
difficult to endure
brutal hard labor in the hot sun
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cruel
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others
a brutal tyrant who drove his country to revolt
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in brute
having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal
a coarse, brutal man who has no sense of what it means to be refined or sensitive or cultured
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brutal
Last weekend was especially brutal; the distraction of Halloween and a lack of new releases resulted in the slowest frame of the entire year.
—
Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
During the brutal winter that followed, Allied casualties mounted at such an unsustainable clip that European Theater headquarters put out a call for Black volunteers to serve in white rifle companies at the front.
—Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli all held up 10s, which made Flav's 9 especially brutal.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2025
Their non‑conference schedule is loaded with high‑profile matchups, and their SEC slate remains brutal.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brutal
Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
During the brutal winter that followed, Allied casualties mounted at such an unsustainable clip that European Theater headquarters put out a call for Black volunteers to serve in white rifle companies at the front.
—Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli all held up 10s, which made Flav's 9 especially brutal.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2025
Their non‑conference schedule is loaded with high‑profile matchups, and their SEC slate remains brutal.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brutal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brutal
Adjective
-
According to the woman, her parents’ reasoning for denying her requests was rooted in a harsh lesson about independence.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Instead of buying special cleaners or reaching for harsh chemicals to clean around your home, look to your medicine cabinet for a solution.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In Pahani’s 2006 award-winning comedy Offside, about the cruel cultural chains binding Iranian women, a group of young women attempt to gain entry to a stadium to watch a World Cup qualifying match between Iran and Japan.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
24 Oct. 2025
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There is no reason to be cruel to people.—
Sigal Ratner-Arias,
Billboard,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Instead of brute-force computation or countless lines of custom code, AI uses advanced algorithms to spot patterns, organize massive datasets, and highlight issues that might otherwise take weeks of manual work to uncover.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Where its larger cousin evolved for brute strength with thick legs and a bone-crushing bite, Nanotyrannus took a different approach to hunting prey.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Whether or not Takaichi's administration is as tough on immigration issues as her campaign rhetoric suggests, some observers warn that failing to actively invest in and integrate foreign nationals into society will have lasting harm on Asia’s second-largest economy.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Without a consolidation of that vote in the final stretch, Mamdani appears tough to beat.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The boos were booming and vicious.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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This ad hoc ecosystem of technology is creating a vicious cycle where the very technology meant to solve problems ends up creating more.—
Daniel Kendzior,
Fortune,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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After a summer of oppressive heat, October is when New York City hits its stride.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
18 Oct. 2025
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Raducanu had her blood pressure taken during the match, which was played in oppressive heat and humidity, before retiring down 6-1, 4-1.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Edmund Fitzgerald was caught in a savage storm with hurricane-force winds around 100-mile-an-hour and waves up to 60 feet, crashing down on the freighter every four to eight seconds, says Bacon.—
NPR,
NPR,
6 Nov. 2025
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Here, spiritual infractions are met with savage physical punishment and some of the more grotesque images in recent horror memory (which, as the genre has become ever more popular and emboldened, is seriously saying something).—
Dennis Perkins,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Its lighter, more delicate texture is best suited to baking, poaching, or searing.—
Rachael Zimlich,
Verywell Health,
24 Oct. 2025
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Racking up enthusiastic reviews, Dave’s Hot Chicken has made a searing entry into the Boise market.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brutal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutal. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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