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!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of brute
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
These people come at night and take everything with brute force.
—Olivia Potts, Longreads, 28 May 2026
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
That’s happened in several Mid Atlantic rivers, but in the absence of larger brutes like blues and flathead, channels will thrive and can break the 15-pound mark.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brute
Adjective
Myriad applications Instead of forcing a brute-strength signal through the water, BlueME utilizes a array of magnetoelectric antennas.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
These people come at night and take everything with brute force.
—Olivia Potts, Longreads, 28 May 2026
Noun
And what better way to force that out of her than to put her up against a brute of a man who has all the confidence in the world?
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
That’s happened in several Mid Atlantic rivers, but in the absence of larger brutes like blues and flathead, channels will thrive and can break the 15-pound mark.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brute
Adjective
-
Higher-level inmates gorge themselves; those below face starvation, suicide or cannibalism – a brutal metaphor for the world’s food chain.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
12 June 2026
-
The president’s instinct to go for the jugular was on display in his first campaign, when he was written off early on as an entertainer but found success with brutal takedowns.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Publishers Coolabi Group and Chinese online giant Tencent Video have greenlit the series, adapted from Erin Hunter’s novels about battling clans of feral cats, which have sold more than 90 million copies worldwide.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
-
Look for Wildlife Throughout the park, bison lumber along the road and prairies, while feral horses flounce about the buttes.—
Julia Sayers Gokhale,
Midwest Living,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
The hotel is also pet-friendly, allowing two animals of any size free of charge.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
-
Made with the unctuous 8-percent-fat milk of the water buffalo—animals that may have arrived in the area via the Normans by way of Sicily, or perhaps by the Goths coming from Central Asia—buffalo mozzarella has been produced at least since the twelfth century.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
The hero of the series is a former Olympic show jumper turned Tory member of Parliament named Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell), a sexy but cruel villain who—in the books at least—beats horses and breaks women.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
-
Clutching a mysterious tool the shape of a mouse coffin, Firth’s villain tracks Daniel’s location by mentally transplanting himself into another person’s body, changing the color of their pupils to his own icy blue.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
What begins as a desperate family bonding trip rapidly devolves into savage violence and brutal psychological warfare.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
3 June 2026
-
Their twiggy legs and bony frames exposed in bathing suits, the kids do indeed look extra vulnerable within the film’s savage landscape.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
25 May 2026
Adjective
-
And to complete the old-school feeling, this brutish bulldog is built by AC Cars, one of the world’s longest standing auto manufacturers.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
3 June 2026
-
But when a brutish — and handsome — newcomer named Sir Tristam defeats Sir Palomides in a tournament, Princess Isode finds her plans thwarted.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
If these quasi-mythical creatures provoked unease, at least among outsiders, their cheese did the opposite.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
Feeding and living on the carcasses were myriad creatures, large and small, including sea cucumbers, squat lobsters and saltwater clams.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
For years, winning a major on the men’s side meant going through at least one tennis monster.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
-
This is because the main enemies in this game look to be large chitinous alien monsters, which your titular Gundam can slice into tiny pieces.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brute. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
