Synonyms of brute

brute 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbrüt 

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

• brutal
• savage
• cruel
• vicious
• ruthless
• ferocious
• sadistic
• inhuman
• barbarous
• merciless
• murderous
• barbaric
• heartless
• truculent
• inhumane
• fiendish
• atrocious
• oppressive
• harsh
• hateful
• butcherly
• malicious
• pitiless
• wanton
• red in tooth and claw
• unfeeling
• bloodthirsty
• fell
• grim
• sanguinary
• malignant
• malevolent
• vindictive
• spiteful
• hard-hearted
• cutthroat
• malign
• sanguine
• draconian
• ironhearted
• mean
• nasty
• catty
• stonyhearted
• despiteful
• draconic
• heavy-handed
• hardhanded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• kind
• benign
• sympathetic
• humane
• compassionate
• warm
• benignant
• kindhearted
• merciful
• charitable
• good-hearted
• tender
• lenient
• tenderhearted
• pitying
• peaceable
• peaceful
• warmhearted
• pacific
• clement

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

• brutal
• feral
• brutish
• animal
• bestial
• savage
• animalistic
• beastly
• cruel
• physical
• subhuman
• vicious
• swinish
• sensual
• ferine
• coarse
• corporeal
• corporal
• crass
• rude
• bodily
• sadistic
• vulgar
• carnal
• barbarous
• barbaric
• heartless
• fleshly
• inhumane
• gross
• crude
• uncouth
• uncultured
• wanton
• unrefined
• uncultivated
• ill-bred
• lowbred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sublime
• noble
• high
• gallant
• great
• chivalrous
• magnanimous
• lofty
• spiritual
• lordly
• elevated
• angelic
• kind
• benevolent
• high-minded
• kindly
• beneficent
• compassionate
• greathearted
• genteel
• refined
• cultured
• polished
• benignant
• kindhearted
• cultivated
• softhearted
• good-hearted
• tenderhearted
• well-bred

brute

2 of 2

noun

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

• animal
• creature
• beast
• beastie
• critter
• quadruped
• varmint
• biped
• vermin
• invertebrate
• carnivore
• herbivore
• pet
• insectivore
• vertebrate
• blastie
• domestic animal
• livestock
• feral
• stock

2

as in villain

a mean, evil, or unprincipled person

leave him alone, you brute!

Synonyms & Similar Words

• villain
• savage
• monster
• beast
• devil
• criminal
• offender
• wretch
• heavy
• scoundrel
• thug
• bandit
• rogue
• rascal
• assassin
• knave
• caitiff
• scapegrace
• scalawag
• reprobate
• miscreant
• varlet
• scamp
• fiend
• gangster
• hound
• nazi
• loser
• evildoer
• no-good
• crook
• perpetrator
• baddie
• meanie
• snake
• rapscallion
• trespasser
• blackguard
• culprit
• heel
• felon
• viper
• outlaw
• perp
• rough
• serpent
• ruffian
• con
• malefactor
• villainess
• sinner
• transgressor
• wrongdoer
• lawbreaker
• desperado
• cad
• tough
• hooligan
• cutthroat
• hoodlum
• convict
• goon
• racketeer
• rowdy
• bravo
• lowlife
• jailbird
• gunman
• stinker
• trash
• ne'er-do-well

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• innocent
• hero
• angel
• saint

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of brute

Adjective

Its evolution and that of the surrounding estate have been determined by border disputes between papal states and grand duchies, by World Wars, and, in the second half of the 20th century, by brute economics, industrialization, and urbanization. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026

There’s a lot of brute force and aggression and anger and emotion, and women, for years, have worked on processing all of those things. — Tom Roland, Billboard, 10 Sep. 2026

Noun

Even the consumer-level codes that encrypt your online banking are so hard to break that every computer on the planet working together would need longer than the age of the universe to brute-force them apart. — David M. Ewalt, Scientific American, 19 May 2026

Oscillating between a bumbling brute and an ironic ignoramus, Marvel Studios sees the God of Thunder more like the God of Blunder, kicking out the knees of the steady 2011 film in favour of single-digit IQ humour. — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 6 May 2026