1
as in to humiliate
to make (someone) feel or behave more like an animal than a human being
even three years in a prison camp did not brutalize him
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to abuse
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
Red Cross workers reported that prisoners had been brutalized
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brutalize
Here in Los Angeles, as in much of coastal California where the roads and highways are broken and brutalized due to overpopulation, a plush airbag suspension paired with this punchy hybrid powertrain would serve well, very well indeed.
—
Mark Ewing, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Gunther even brutalized Jimmy while Jay was strapped to a ring rope, unable to assist his brother.
—Shaheem Reid, Variety, 19 Apr. 2025
The sixth emperor of the famed Mughal dynasty, he is considered by many detractors to be a tyrant who brutalized women, razed Hindu temples, forced religious conversions and waged wars against Hindu and Sikh rulers.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
Pitching was supposed to be the hallmark of this year’s club, but it’s been brutalized because of injuries.
—Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brutalize
Mark Ewing, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Gunther even brutalized Jimmy while Jay was strapped to a ring rope, unable to assist his brother.
—Shaheem Reid, Variety, 19 Apr. 2025
The sixth emperor of the famed Mughal dynasty, he is considered by many detractors to be a tyrant who brutalized women, razed Hindu temples, forced religious conversions and waged wars against Hindu and Sikh rulers.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
Pitching was supposed to be the hallmark of this year’s club, but it’s been brutalized because of injuries.
—Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brutalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brutalize
Verb
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Simone Inzaghi really needs the win here — his Italian side finished one point behind Serie A champ Napoli and was humiliated by rival AC Milan in the Coppa Italia semifinal.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
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And after Trump’s attempts to humiliate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office, the lure of the White House is waning.—
Stephen Collinson,
CNN Money,
31 May 2025
Verb
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Three-time gold medal sprinter Gabby Thomas was verbally abused at a track meet in Philadelphia, not the first harassment this year.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2025
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Smart was subjected to daily rapes and often abused and starved throughout her 9-month ordeal.—
Stephanie Kaloi,
People.com,
5 June 2025
Verb
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In this evil place that was designed to dehumanize you, these women created this sisterhood and refused to allow that to happen.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
4 June 2025
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Instead of offering care, the jail isolates, neglects, and dehumanizes people who need treatment — not incarceration.—
Justyna Rzewinski,
New York Daily News,
21 May 2025
Verb
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After Daniel is bullied by his classmates, he is encouraged to take karate lessons to defend himself.—
Keith Langston,
People.com,
1 June 2025
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For Essiedu’s Snape, his story eventually leads to the revelation that he was relentlessly bullied by James Potter back in the ‘70s, hung upside down with magic at one point, and pining after Lily, James’ eventual wife.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Verb
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As the film unfolds, Wilson finds out that Sterns, the movie's villain, has been the mastermind behind the entire plot and has been poisoning Ross with gamma rays via pills for years.—
Caroline Blair,
People.com,
28 May 2025
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Intermediately, because a member of Ethan’s team, Claire (Emmanuelle Béart) has poisoned Donloe, which results in Donloe having some pretty intense gastrointestinal reactions.—
Mike Ryan,
IndieWire,
27 May 2025
Verb
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More recently, in June of last year, thirty-four senators sent a letter to Andy Jassy, the C.E.O. of Amazon, addressing allegations that the company mistreated drivers in its Delivery Service Partner program.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 May 2025
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This is not the singer’s first time being accused of mistreating animals.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
28 May 2025
Verb
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The idea of exploiting the Palestinian cause to oppress the Syrian people has been rejected.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2025
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No longer oppressed by external authority, we are instead crushed by the weight of limitless possibility.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
Verb
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The footage includes a scene in which a Hitler look-alike is tortured.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
3 June 2025
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In 2024, Chinese state media reported at least four separate cases of university students allegedly torturing cats.—
Rebecca Wright,
CNN Money,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brutalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutalize. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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