as in harshly
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering
the prisoners were treated brutally at the hands of the guards
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Recent Examples of brutally
But those guards fell crashing down on Wednesday night in a brutally honest assessment of his team following Boise State’s (9-6, 1-3 Mountain West) 75-58 home loss to Grand Canyon (9-5, 2-1) at ExtraMile Arena.
—
Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
The result was over a century of catastrophe, not just for ordinary Europeans but also for the people of numerous African countries that were colonized, often brutally.
—Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Jenkins brutally stomped and punched Coto, who was severely injured and put on life support.
—Tony Aiello, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Trader, a straight shooter, is brutally candid on the topic.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
All of their efforts at rebellion in the 19th century were swiftly and brutally suppressed.
—Laurent Dubois, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Yes, this was a brutally bad season for the Commanders, and there are many questions and problems the organization will have to figure out and solve in the coming weeks.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
This month, 11 alleged TdA members were indicted in New Mexico, accused of kidnapping, brutally interrogating and strangling to death a man in Albuquerque and burying his body in a remote desert grave, The Center Square reported.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 5 Jan. 2026
Over short periods, stocks can jump around for any reason - or sometimes seemingly no reason, and thus the P & L can be brutally path-dependent.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
The result was over a century of catastrophe, not just for ordinary Europeans but also for the people of numerous African countries that were colonized, often brutally.
—Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Jenkins brutally stomped and punched Coto, who was severely injured and put on life support.
—Tony Aiello, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Trader, a straight shooter, is brutally candid on the topic.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
All of their efforts at rebellion in the 19th century were swiftly and brutally suppressed.
—Laurent Dubois, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Yes, this was a brutally bad season for the Commanders, and there are many questions and problems the organization will have to figure out and solve in the coming weeks.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
This month, 11 alleged TdA members were indicted in New Mexico, accused of kidnapping, brutally interrogating and strangling to death a man in Albuquerque and burying his body in a remote desert grave, The Center Square reported.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 5 Jan. 2026
Over short periods, stocks can jump around for any reason - or sometimes seemingly no reason, and thus the P & L can be brutally path-dependent.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brutally
Adverb
-
In a follow-up study, highly attractive female fitness influencers faced stronger backlash than equally attractive men, perhaps reflecting a broader social tendency to judge women’s looks more harshly.—
Abby Frank,
The Conversation,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The Next Gen Stats model graded the decision even more harshly, a 7% dip in win probability.—
Sam McDowell
November 4,
Kansas City Star,
4 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
In the ninth century, a severely disabled woman was buried, her feet bound, in an annex of the church in Elsau, outside Zürich.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The time is never right to severely chop off your crape myrtle.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The second planet from the sun has a completely inhospitable surface, with temperatures reaching 863 degrees Fahrenheit (462 degrees Celsius) and a crushing pressure underneath an oppressively thick atmosphere.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
1 Oct. 2025
-
On an oppressively hot Friday in July, plumes of smoke curl up from Arnolds Field.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
15 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
Alexandria has been really hard hit, down 50% in that period.—
Jason Gewirtz,
CNBC,
6 Jan. 2026
-
For instance, walking most days is far better than exercising hard once a month.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brutally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutally. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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