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
For those who have long wished to see the brutally repressive regime of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gone, there is hope.
—
Kara Fox, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
The authoritarian regime has brutally oppressed the people of Iran for generations.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
The regime had, over the years, brutally punished ever-increasing dissent, most recently by killing thousands of protesters who had taken to the streets in January.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
These are the brutally real snapshots of a man well acquainted with—but still perplexed by—the powerful and destructive forces that lord over our lives.
—Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 4 Mar. 2026
Earlier this year, huge anti-government protests were brutally crushed.
—Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 3 Mar. 2026
The boy’s 14-year-old brother testified at trial, describing having seen Covington brutally whip the little boy with a belt in the apartment’s primary bedroom.
—Dan Sullivan, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
After Rob committed, Eric’s next call was the other person who had been so brutally wronged at the Fire of Truth ceremony.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026
But in the new series, Kayce’s serenity has been brutally shattered, forcing him to find a new path forward after an unimaginable tragedy.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Kara Fox, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
The authoritarian regime has brutally oppressed the people of Iran for generations.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
The regime had, over the years, brutally punished ever-increasing dissent, most recently by killing thousands of protesters who had taken to the streets in January.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
These are the brutally real snapshots of a man well acquainted with—but still perplexed by—the powerful and destructive forces that lord over our lives.
—Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 4 Mar. 2026
Earlier this year, huge anti-government protests were brutally crushed.
—Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 3 Mar. 2026
The boy’s 14-year-old brother testified at trial, describing having seen Covington brutally whip the little boy with a belt in the apartment’s primary bedroom.
—Dan Sullivan, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
After Rob committed, Eric’s next call was the other person who had been so brutally wronged at the Fire of Truth ceremony.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026
But in the new series, Kayce’s serenity has been brutally shattered, forcing him to find a new path forward after an unimaginable tragedy.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brutally
Adverb
-
But the Bar still intends to ask the court to punish Uhlfelder much more harshly.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Mar. 2026
-
That proposal had been praised by some neighborhood leaders who often oppose high-rise housing in or near single-family areas, but it was harshly criticized by leaders of the development and business community.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Mahan clarified that severely treatment-resistant homeless people would receive help in a medical setting.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Placing the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts severely handcuffs what the Falcons can do this offseason.—
Omar Kelly
March 8,
Miami Herald,
8 Mar. 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
-
Dallas Lincoln's Jada Patterson (24) drives hard to the basket during first quarter action against Fredericksburg.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Sustaining success is assuredly much harder.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brutally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutally. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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