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
Binaifer Nowrojee, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
As the sector transitions from the initial brute-force stage of training large models to the challenge of running them affordably and efficiently on a large scale, designers are dividing into rival factions.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Mihály is a brute who mistreats his mother.
—Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brute
Adjective
Their crime was raising their voices against a repressive government that relied on brute force and surveillance of its citizens for its survival, a regime whose authority rested on force and fear.
—Binaifer Nowrojee, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
As the sector transitions from the initial brute-force stage of training large models to the challenge of running them affordably and efficiently on a large scale, designers are dividing into rival factions.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
An extermination of the brutes in the Middle East, presided over by Obama’s successors, has been followed by a swift cancellation by Trumpian decree of the postracial age.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Mihály is a brute who mistreats his mother.
—Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brute
Adjective
-
The regime accused protesters of being Israeli spies and deployed the brutal local paramilitary Basij force to suppress demonstrations which were sparked by poor economic conditions but transformed into calls for regime change.—
Farida Elsebai,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Olivia, Bailey’s mother, was really Kate Smith, and her father was Nicholas Bell (David Morse), famous mob lawyer for The Syndicate, or The Organization, a group notorious for crimes and brutal retaliation against their enemies.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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More than 1,300 chickens were caught through the program last year, said Honolulu Department of Customer Services spokesperson Harold Nedd, who added the department also saw a 51% increase in complaints about feral chickens in 2025.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
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Last week, the friction spiked in Miami-Dade when Regalado introduced legislation to create a $100 fine for people feeding feral cats, dogs and peacocks on public or commercial property.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
One code violation prohibits residents from having more than three animals and two additional animals up to three months of age in one household.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The aquarium opened a new era Tuesday with the announcement that Jenny Gray — a leader known for her work in animal ethics, welfare and conservation in Australia — will become just the second chief executive to lead the Monterey aquarium.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Even the Dodgers, the cartoon villains of spending, kind of sort of have a limit.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
And Salieri seems more of hybrid creature, as though a villain out of Christopher Marlowe had suddenly been endowed with Shakespearean self-awareness.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Wade Wilson confessed to the savage murders of two women, yet even that brutality failed to repel admirers.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
15 Feb. 2026
-
On his second, Dominique pulled off a savage windmill, the same dunk that had earned a perfect score the year before and won him the title.—
Kevin Sherrington
Feb. 10,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
For Trump, nothing — not even peace — transcends his brutish transactionalism.—
Ezra Klein,
Mercury News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
But don’t dismiss Ausar as a one-dimensional, brutish player.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Jamieson expects other Antarctic sharks live at the same depth, feeding on the carcasses of whales, giant squids and other marine creatures that die and sink to the bottom.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Shinomiya pays detailed attention to everything on screen, crafting not just the faces and emotions of the characters, but also all the other creatures, natural landforms and skies of this story world.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
New Yorkers only just freed from the snow and ice left by January’s monster storm will once again face winter’s wrath.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2026
-
If a monster is there, and the monster is those who escape justice or being held to account.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brute. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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