1
as in brutal
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others
brute attacks on innocent civilians
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in feral
having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal
a man of brute instinct, he deals with conflict the only way he knows how—by physical force
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in animal
one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings
it is a fundamental sense of right and wrong that separates us from the brutes
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in villain
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
leave him alone, you brute!
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brute
Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
That kind of asymmetry hints at advanced hunting strategies, not just brute force.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026
Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
Bay Hill was a brute before the round was halted for just over an hour because of heavy rain.
—Dallas Morning News, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brute
Adjective
That asymmetry suggests sophisticated and adaptable behavior, not just brute strength.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
That kind of asymmetry hints at advanced hunting strategies, not just brute force.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
The psychology that Bryk wrote for these young men is the key as to why these brutes are more lovable than unbearable.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
Bay Hill was a brute before the round was halted for just over an hour because of heavy rain.
—Dallas Morning News, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brute
Adjective
-
In Oddity, Darcy (Carolyn Bracken) is driven entirely by grief over the brutal murder of her twin sister.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
Demand for EVs in China is slowing after the government trimmed consumer subsidies and perks, and there’s no end in sight to a brutal price war as a crowded field of EV rivals jostle to outperform and undercut one another.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
As Columbia, Rodriguez takes big, bold swings, shifting from manic exuberance to bruised vulnerability to feral anger over the course of the night.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The ordinance would create a city-run TNR program under which feral cats can be humanely trapped and surgically sterilized, then vaccinated and ear-tagged before being released back into the community.—
Claire Wang,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Manure from animals that don’t consume meat (rabbits, cows, horses) is fine, but do not use waste from carnivores.—
Jessica Damiano,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana donated $500,000 towards the construction, and the city is using $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds and remaining funds from Gary community development and animal shelter allocations to pay for the project.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In its earlier days, The Boys might have done something with how Nanjiani’s Eternals and Rogen’s The Green Hornet both underperformed, and the Kick-Ass movies in which Mintz-Plasse played a villain left little cultural footprint.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Most of his videos, filmed in a local studio or sometimes on the streets of Charlotte, are high-quality shorts showing him in throes of battle with classic villains like Killer Croc or Bane.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This time playing an underling rather than a boss, Hoskins gave one of the best performances of his career in what remains a high point for Jordan as well, a lyrical and poignant yet savage film noir filled with regret, rage, and unrequited love.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
20 Apr. 2026
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The famed African American journalist investigated lynchings across the South and wrote about the savage incidents that the white press had already explained away.—
Case Thorp,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The people running things are nasty, brutish and eager to appeal to baser instincts rather than better angels.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Unlike other crimes that use hacking or social engineering scams to access victims’ funds remotely, wrench attacks rely on more brutish methods of coercion like kidnapping and torture.—
Megan Cassidy,
San Francisco Chronicle,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Nicknamed by German media after a beach in Timmendorfer, near the Baltic island where the whale was initially stranded, the creature was first spotted in low-saline waters, which whales usually avoid, Reuters reported.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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But recent studies in yeast, flies and mice showed that relatively low doses of the drug often increase the creatures’ lifespans, prompting many longevity enthusiasts to start using it off-label to extend their lifespans.—
Gretchen Reynolds,
Washington Post,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Not for Gage Goncalves, who set this thing in motion with a monster goal in overtime in the Lightning’s 1-0 Game 6 victory at the Bell Centre.—
John Romano,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
-
The titular monsters in this anthology series tend to do well at the Emmys (Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer and Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez were both nominated).—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brute. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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