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
The body pointed to the fact that Iran’s Farabi cinema body, which oversees the country’s submission, was directly controlled by the hardline Islamic Republic regime government, which in turn has suppressed freedom of speech and brutally oppressed filmmakers across its 47 years in power.
—
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 May 2026
The central monologue is brutally honest, giving voice to issues that are rarely voiced in such a relatable fashion onscreen, including toxic masculinity and negative body image within the gay community.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
The Mercedes was again slow away and fell behind Leclerc, while Verstappen dropped his Red Bull exiting Turn 1 — having brutally chopped off Norris’ good start.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 4 May 2026
The 2021 army takeover triggered massive public resistance that was brutally suppressed, triggering a bloody civil war that has killed thousands of people.
—ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Even before the war began, hardship and inflation provoked nationwide protests that were brutally repressed.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
Plus, again, the cost of living has become brutally high.
—Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
Nate is brutally beaten, thrown against the railing of his staircase, and dragged across the floor.
—Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 27 Apr. 2026
Woo said Lawhead had been sentenced to spend 19 years in prison for brutally attacking a 71-year-old grandmother and raping her 11-year-old granddaughter in 1980 in Sacramento County.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 May 2026
The central monologue is brutally honest, giving voice to issues that are rarely voiced in such a relatable fashion onscreen, including toxic masculinity and negative body image within the gay community.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
The Mercedes was again slow away and fell behind Leclerc, while Verstappen dropped his Red Bull exiting Turn 1 — having brutally chopped off Norris’ good start.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 4 May 2026
The 2021 army takeover triggered massive public resistance that was brutally suppressed, triggering a bloody civil war that has killed thousands of people.
—ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Even before the war began, hardship and inflation provoked nationwide protests that were brutally repressed.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
Plus, again, the cost of living has become brutally high.
—Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
Nate is brutally beaten, thrown against the railing of his staircase, and dragged across the floor.
—Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 27 Apr. 2026
Woo said Lawhead had been sentenced to spend 19 years in prison for brutally attacking a 71-year-old grandmother and raping her 11-year-old granddaughter in 1980 in Sacramento County.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brutally
Adverb
-
After Talley’s initial court hearing Monday, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President John Catanzara and Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza were among several officials who harshly criticized the passage of the SAFE-T Act and Lyke’s decision to grant Talley pretrial release.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Again, Gulutzan was reluctant to criticize his team too harshly given how close the series has been.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Overuse of ice melt products can severely stress and kill pachysandra growing along the side of a walk.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
-
Online adult platforms are being severely restricted these days as new laws banning materials involving adults pretending to be under 18 are put into place.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
3 May 2026
Adverb
-
The first of the four chapters is an oppressively gray-toned, narratively diffuse spy thriller, set amid the mists of what appears to be the Second World War.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
18 Dec. 2025
-
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
Adverb
-
For most of the nation’s history, the former Confederate states have worked hard to minimize the political influence of Black residents in particular.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
-
Joyce, the Angels’ hard-throwing reliever, is the one whose return is most eagerly awaited by fans.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brutally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutally. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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