BRUTES Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

brutes

noun

plural of brute

as in animals

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

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as in villains

a mean, evil, or unprincipled person leave him alone, you brute!

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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 brutes These brutes commonly exceed 50 pounds. — Keith Sutton, Outdoor Life, 18 June 2026 In Raspail’s tale, hordes of impoverished and dark-skinned brutes from India descend onto French shores by way of rafts, the first wave of an invasion of the civilized West by the brown-skinned developing world. — Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026 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 Credit to producers Tim Zinnemann and George Linder for selecting a veritable array of brutes to wage battle with Arnold. — Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2025 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 Some are slow and heavy brutes that have tons of health while others are slightly but deal more damage. — Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for brutes

Noun

The facility -- which is home to more than 10,000 animals -- must operate 24 hours a day.

— CBS News, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Rice takes curious young readers on a tour of the natural world that’s hiding in plain sight, focusing on the ways that plants and animals communicate and connect.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of animals

Noun

Much psychological research has focussed on the degradation of villains, but a symmetrical force works to elevate victims.

— Paul Bloom, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026
Catwoman For a sexy twist on your classic cat makeup, channel one of the comic book world's most beloved villains.

— Michella Oré, Glamour, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of villains

Noun

Among the English-speaking settlers, the events at Lake George would be remembered as a massacre, and the Indigenous people whose home this was, whose conventions of war did not match those of the European empires, were called savages.

— James Whorton Jr, Longreads, 13 Oct. 2026
And potentially discover treasure that will keep the savages at home from tearing the place down.

— Barry Collins, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of savages

Noun

The film, set between the years 1945 and 1947, depicts a society struggling to recover from war, only to be reduced, once again, by the arrival of a kaiju (as giant monsters are known in Japanese, and to fans of the corresponding film genre).

— Matt Alt, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026
The fight scene rules, and there are much, much worse things for kids to see than CGI monsters grievously injuring one another.

— James Grebey, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of monsters

Noun

The dinosaur attacks have at least one upside, though, as running from the prehistoric beasts forces Denise and Greg to overcome their marital tension.

— Mya Copeland, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026
But markets are forward-looking beasts, and Boeing letting investors down on the cash-flow ramp in the coming years is, understandably, causing many investors to dump the stock Tuesday.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of beasts

Noun

According to investigators cited by NBC News, the criminals have shown planning and sophistication by employing techniques like GPS location spoofing and even arranging collisions with police escort vehicles.

— Nick Indge, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026
Without changing state law, criminals can continue to be sentenced to death in California.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of criminals

Noun

In 1974 the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons first appeared, and later editions featured such character types as devils and demons.

— Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
Researchers have also documented the phenomenon in dogs, Tasmanian devils, and some kinds of clams and other shellfish.

— Adam Cohen, Oklahoman, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of devils

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“Brutes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutes. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of brutes

noun

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