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
When four of its members (Ogoni chiefs — one of whom was my mother’s brother-in-law) were brutally killed by restive Ogoni youths, the government arrested my father and eight of his colleagues.
—
Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
Today, the self-congratulation of white liberals has been displaced by white-supremacist promoters of Western civilization who don’t merely posit but brutally enforce inequality between races, peoples, cultures, and nation-states.
—Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Austin says his mother was treated even more brutally.
—Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Rallies have been rare since anti-war protests were brutally suppressed in 2022, with political prosecutions skyrocketing and laws restricting dissent multiplying.
—ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
In a series that traffics in themes of female empowerment, Titus brutally killing Ursula feels needlessly cruel.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
During a scene from her childhood, Jane brutally digs her nails into her older brother for turning the channel away from Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ lavish 1981 wedding.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
In 2019, Atre was kidnapped and found brutally murdered at his Santa Cruz estate.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026
Mark Normand’s always had a special brand of brutally funny, quick-fire comedy.
—Ali Lerman, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
Today, the self-congratulation of white liberals has been displaced by white-supremacist promoters of Western civilization who don’t merely posit but brutally enforce inequality between races, peoples, cultures, and nation-states.
—Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Austin says his mother was treated even more brutally.
—Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Rallies have been rare since anti-war protests were brutally suppressed in 2022, with political prosecutions skyrocketing and laws restricting dissent multiplying.
—ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
In a series that traffics in themes of female empowerment, Titus brutally killing Ursula feels needlessly cruel.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
During a scene from her childhood, Jane brutally digs her nails into her older brother for turning the channel away from Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ lavish 1981 wedding.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
In 2019, Atre was kidnapped and found brutally murdered at his Santa Cruz estate.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026
Mark Normand’s always had a special brand of brutally funny, quick-fire comedy.
—Ali Lerman, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brutally
Adverb
-
Dissent is harshly punished in Iran, as demonstrated earlier this year when the regime killed thousands of protesters who dared to challenge its rule.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Since leaving office, Ahmadinejad has harshly criticized the Iranian government, and as a result, Iran’s Guardian Council has formally excluded him from running for president.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Israel's Ben Gurion airport has been operating on a severely limited basis throughout the war.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The study examined the high cost across different family structures, highlighting that rising living expenses have severely squeezed the traditional middle-class budget.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
29 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
-
They are being hit so hard, anybody would be negotiating.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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There is serious concern that a stoppage that costs games could dampen the enthusiasm the sport worked hard to rebuild.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brutally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutally. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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