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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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 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

Directed by Grammy Award-winning filmmaker James Mackel, the visual is three-and-a-half minutes of spy stuff, our hero, dressed to impress, making short work of the many villains who lurk in her hotel.

— Lars Brandle, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2026
One of Batman’s creepiest villains is descending upon the box office this weekend.

— Jordan Moreau, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of villains

Noun

The 90-acre Turtle Conservancy in Ojai once focused on creating or maintaining turtle habitats around the world, but has of late focused on building habitats for displaced creatures in Ojai.

— Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026
Throughout outer space lie stars and galaxies that resemble creepy creatures, spooky skulls and galactic ghouls.

— Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of creatures

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

In one of the many scary dream sequences David Naughton has while becoming a werewolf, his Jewish family back home is slaughtered by Nazi monsters.

— Vulture Editors, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
Other popular depictions of ghouls conflated them with monsters such as zombies and demons.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of monsters

Noun

The stampede of hooves…the trumpeting of beasts… our friends and neighbors changing before our very eyes.

— Greg Evans, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Dangerous donkeys On one side is the public safety crowd, who insist the 500-pound beasts are a menace to the free flow of commerce.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of beasts

Noun

The 83-year-old Mann is known for directing gritty crime stories, many of which look at cops and criminals and are set in urban landscapes.

— Brent Lang, IndieWire, 1 Nov. 2026
Users include not only law enforcement, but also homeowners associations and businesses – and advocates say the cameras can deter criminals and help track down suspects and missing people.

— Graham Hurley, CNN Money, 1 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 4 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of brutes

noun

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