Synonyms of brutish

brutish

adjective

ˈbrü-tish 

as in brute

having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal

as the months of recurrent combat dragged on, the daily existence of the soldiers became increasingly brutish

Synonyms & Similar Words

• brute
• brutal
• feral
• animalistic
• bestial
• savage
• beastly
• subhuman
• cruel
• animal
• vicious
• swinish
• physical
• sensual
• coarse
• ferine
• rude
• corporeal
• crass
• sadistic
• barbaric
• barbarous
• corporal
• vulgar
• carnal
• heartless
• inhumane
• bodily
• uncouth
• crude
• uncultured
• fleshly
• gross
• wanton
• unrefined
• uncultivated
• ill-bred
• lowbred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• noble
• sublime
• chivalrous
• gallant
• great
• high
• magnanimous
• lofty
• elevated
• spiritual
• lordly
• angelic
• high-minded
• benevolent
• kind
• compassionate
• beneficent
• kindly
• greathearted
• genteel
• angelical
• cultured
• polished
• refined
• kindhearted
• softhearted
• good-hearted
• cultivated
• benignant
• tenderhearted
• well-bred

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective brutish differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of brutish are bestial, brutal, and feral. While all these words mean "characteristic of an animal in nature, action, or instinct," brutish stresses likeness to an animal in low intelligence, in base appetites, and in behavior based on instinct.

brutish stupidity

In what contexts can bestial take the place of brutish?

In some situations, the words bestial and brutish are roughly equivalent. However, bestial suggests a state of degradation unworthy of humans and fit only for beasts.

bestial depravity

When is brutal a more appropriate choice than brutish?

The meanings of brutal and brutish largely overlap; however, brutal applies to people, their acts, or their words and suggests a lack of intelligence, feeling, or humanity.

a senseless and brutal war

When could feral be used to replace brutish?

The words feral and brutish can be used in similar contexts, but feral suggests the savagery or ferocity of wild animals.

the struggle to survive unleashed their feral impulses

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of brutish

These hopes are shattered when a brutish stranger appears on the doorstep to take his family back. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 12 Sep. 2025

With trigger-warning culture on the wane and a brutish permissiveness creeping back into society, corporate scolds have lost much of their power. —Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2025

The pure of heart among you may recoil at the notion that anyone would sow brutish chaos, hurt vulnerable people and throw any semblance of democracy under the bus for a churlish, vicious distraction. —Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2025

The silver lining in all of this, if there is one, is that a recognition of the nasty and brutish new normal may yet mobilize the political support needed to make a dent in global emissions. —Veerabhadran Ramanathan, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2018