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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brute
TIME, 23 Mar. 2025
Rather than raids and brute force, the Trump administration must work with Congress on immigration reforms that benefit all Americans.
—Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
Dov Friedman, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2014
One million doctors to give care, 1.4 million brutes in cubicles doing their best to stop doctors from giving that care.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for brute
Adjective
Beyond that, Hamas’ only recourse to staying in power is brute force.
—TIME, 23 Mar. 2025
Rather than raids and brute force, the Trump administration must work with Congress on immigration reforms that benefit all Americans.
—Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
Maliki is a divisive brute whom Iran supports to the hilt.
—Dov Friedman, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2014
One million doctors to give care, 1.4 million brutes in cubicles doing their best to stop doctors from giving that care.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for brute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brute
Adjective
-
But graduating in 2009 meant stepping into a brutal job market during the Great Recession.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Andrews adds musical interludes, which don’t always work, and brutal jokes, which do.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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According to the outlets, the 250-pound deceased pet was then entered into a feral pig hunting competition, in which the two men won $1,000 cash.—
Lesley Cosme Torres,
People.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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So, to our minds, this has been a very long, slow build towards Shauna as everything the Antler Queen represents, which is the most feral, the most animalistic, the most excited by that power that comes with being the leader and being out in the wilderness.—
Michaela Zee,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Deadly dog mauling Kansas City Police officers responded around 9:30 p.m. Nov. 2, 2024, to the Marlborough East neighborhood for a call about an animal bite incident.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
18 Apr. 2025
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Hantavirus strains in the U.S. are not transmissible from person to person but rather from animals to humans.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Children meet superheroes and villains, engage with games and movies, and are greeted by staff in costume.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
-
The soul patch, villain, and walrus facial hair all work with masks while mutton chops and chin curtain don’t.—
Lisa Wood Shapiro,
Wired News,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.—
Tom Yulsman,
Discover Magazine,
27 Dec. 2022
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The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2022
Adjective
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Her battle with the disease was nasty, brutish, and prolonged.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
16 Apr. 2025
-
The first 54 holes at Palmer’s brutish layout proved those off their game will be exposed.—
Edgar Thompson,
Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Niharika Desai directed the documentary, which follows the Giant Pacific Octopus and the people whose lives have been impacted in some way by the creature.—
Abigail Lee,
Variety,
22 Apr. 2025
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In the mountains of Papua New Guinea, researchers encountered a clownish creature perched on a log in a fern meadow, basking in the sun.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Switch was a monster, so the assumption is that sure, players will pay a full 50% more for a new one, if not more.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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Oviedo and Sepúlveda shared with las Casas the view that Indians were not monsters and did, in fact, have souls that could be saved (a matter of debate for much of the sixteenth century).—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brute. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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