BUTCHERLY Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

butcherly

adjective

ˈbu̇-chər-lē

Definition of butcherly

as in brutal

having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others Genghis Khan and his butcherly horde even massacred the livestock of the villages they overran

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for butcherly

Adjective

When everything changed, as the dust literally settled on the most brutal terror attack on United States soil, the prevailing impulse among NFL owners was to play the games.

— Michael Silver, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
The cuts and the freezing of public funding for the film industry have been brutal for Argentine cinema.

— Roberto Prieto, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of brutal

Adjective

Like her, Americans are also so tired of being screwed by an administration that’s not only grossly incompetent and cruel but corrupt as well.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
Rather than heroic, these costly and horribly uncertain stunts come across callous and cruel.

— Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of cruel

Adjective

Bryan Singer’s ingenious thriller is both a graceful callback to ’50s potboilers and a savage modernization of them.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
Cole, who has to maneuver his way around 20 savage crew members, each of whom will need to be killed, doesn’t waste a homicidal movement.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of savage

Adjective

Arsenal created more than enough to help themselves to a bunch of goals in Naples, only to get stuck in anti-ruthless mode.

— Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Authorities raided the building and found the entrance to a tunnel controlled by the ruthless Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

— Steve Fisher, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of ruthless

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Browse Nearby Words

butchering

butcherly

butchers

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“Butcherly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butcherly. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of butcherly

adjective

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