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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
These conflicts often result in brutal public displays meant to intimidate rivals and authorities alike.
—
Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025
Witness his absolutely brutal verbal beatdown of a former scream queen in the clip below.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 13 June 2025
That fact was evident not only in the casualties and hostage-taking during the massacre, but in the grinding, brutal, and haphazard war in Gaza that has followed.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 13 June 2025
In a mountainous area in the central part of Washington, some of the ground still peppered with snow, the manhunt continued for Decker, a 32-year-old U.S. Army veteran wanted in connection to the brutal slayings of the sisters found dead after vanishing on May 30.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for brutal
Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025
Witness his absolutely brutal verbal beatdown of a former scream queen in the clip below.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 13 June 2025
That fact was evident not only in the casualties and hostage-taking during the massacre, but in the grinding, brutal, and haphazard war in Gaza that has followed.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 13 June 2025
In a mountainous area in the central part of Washington, some of the ground still peppered with snow, the manhunt continued for Decker, a 32-year-old U.S. Army veteran wanted in connection to the brutal slayings of the sisters found dead after vanishing on May 30.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for brutal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brutal
Adjective
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Unlike many traditional sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate—two common culprits behind coral bleaching—reef-safe formulas skip the harsh stuff in favor of ocean-friendly alternatives that tend to also be gentler on sensitive skin.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
16 June 2025
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Some of them include washing with harsh shampoos, particularly those with sulfates or alcohol; overusing scalp scrubs or clarifying products; and not washing frequently enough.—
Jamie Wilson,
Glamour,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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This is cruel, unnecessary, and will further fan the flames of economic chaos for working families across this country.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
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And for every San Antonio, there is a Utah or Washington or Charlotte that can’t believe how cruel the lottery can be.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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Plymouth’s two-door brute was built from 1964 to 1974, and within that decade, saw three generations.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
20 June 2025
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The events on the ground maintain the basic, brute pleasures of the initial premise.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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In Mind For startups, achieving more with less can be tough.—
John Hall,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
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The vote took place against an increasingly violent backlash to the Trump administration's tough immigration policies.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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The Republican tax bill could push food assistance in Colorado into a vicious cycle of funding cuts, increasing mistakes in determining eligibility and further funding cuts to punish those mistakes, Gov. Jared Polis warned in a letter to congressional leaders Friday.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
16 June 2025
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Plaschke delivers a vicious uppercut to his opponent.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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The decision to leave Iran was driven by the oppressive changes following the Iranian Revolution in 1979 concerning the treatment of women.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2025
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In April 1989, pro-democracy students began protesting against the Chinese Communist government’s oppressive restrictions on freedom of speech and democratic values.—
Michelle Steel,
Oc Register,
9 June 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
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Caminero, who was hitless in his previous 17 at-bats, led off with a searing homer to left-center, hit at 109.2 mph and carrying 409 feet.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 June 2025
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Dad can whip up incredible meals with cookware that offers the searing power of stainless steel and the easy cleanup of nonstick.—
Nora Colomer
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brutal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutal. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.
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