1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in villains
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
leave him alone, you brute!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brutes
For much of his career, Skarsgård has gravitated toward characters who weaponize physical presence — Vikings, tech titans and mythic brutes whose power is immediately legible.
—
Clayton Davis, Variety, 9 Jan. 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
Clayton Davis, Variety, 9 Jan. 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
-
On Monday, the Prairie Village City Council voted to adopt a conditional license for Oakley Reign — a spider monkey that’s recently been ushered into the spotlight as the northeast Johnson County city considered changing its definition of dangerous wild animals to include all monkeys.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Sorkin finds no heroes but also no villains.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
11 Jan. 2026
-
There’s also a massive leg lumbering in the distance which could be a Sentinel, the gigantic, mutant-hunting robots that are some of X-Men’s most iconic villains.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But no creatures are as synonymous with the Everglades as the alligators and crocodiles.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
-
What differs from living creatures is how the gelatin can heal.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the Disney+ series adapted from Rick Riordan's bestselling book series, Walker Scobell plays the titular character, a demigod navigating the dangerous world of gods and monsters.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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This bakery, which has been serving Louisville since 1924, offers a wide variety of Mardi Gras items, from King Cakes to cookies, thumbprints, cupcakes and the popular cookie monsters.—
Gege Reed,
Louisville Courier Journal,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Like other rugged beasts, this one is a chunky monkey – but as someone who now uses a rugged handset regularly, this con doesn't outweigh the numerous pros.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
9 Jan. 2026
-
This debut is a magical realist family saga of a daughter’s fraught reunion with her father, refracted with the history of 20th century China and the mythical beasts that stalk it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The first thing to do is to reduce the damage to the United States, the inflow of guns and criminals and immigrants and drugs into the United States, the destabilizing of a key part of the Western Hemisphere.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
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Also, place freezes with ChexSystems and the National Consumer Telecom and Utilities Exchange to stop criminals from opening bank accounts, phone lines, or utility services in his name.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And then there are the infernal workers who make sure that Lucifer’s realm runs smoothly, among them farting devils, giants in chains, and a flying monster with the body of a serpent and the face of an honest man.—
Eric Bulson,
The Atlantic,
2 Jan. 2026
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In odd years, the company produces the story of a group of pastores making a perilous trek to Bethlehem to pay their respects to the Holy Manger while fighting devils and their powerful leader Luzbel.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
25 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Changes in the law regarding youth offenders and subsequent court rulings led a San Diego Superior Court judge on Tuesday to find that Williams fit the criteria to be resentenced.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Tierney blasted the parole system's handling of repeat violent offenders.—
Carolyn Gusoff,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brutes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutes. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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