butcherly

adjective

ˈbu̇-chər-lē How to pronounce butcherly (audio)
Definition of butcherlynext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for butcherly
  1. brutal
  2. cruel
  3. vicious
  4. savage
  5. ruthless
Adjective
  • And, as the Punisher, Frank is known to enact particularly brutal, bloody vengeance.
    — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 31 July 2026
  • After opening the season on the big-league roster and then suffering a demotion after a brutal debut, Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter could be poised to make a stunning return to the mound against the Orioles.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of brutal
Adjective
  • Who could be so cruel as to cut off their family from the family plan?
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Influencer culture didn’t exist yet, but some designers were cruel and catty, even without the current omnipresent evil of social media.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 July 2026
Definition of cruel
Adjective
  • The drastic measures Alice takes to end this vicious cycle naturally bring her closer to Catherine’s school of violent retribution.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 27 July 2026
  • Despite the powerful action and vicious fight scenes the franchise is known for, Laufey is still shaping up as a bit of a love story.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of vicious
Adjective
  • The Yellow Death has disfigured the population, and soldiers in white-and-red tunics serve the savage Duke of Tviot.
    — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • Josefowicz, in her decathlon of a performance, brought Ligeti’s savage discontinuities to the surface.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Definition of savage
Adjective
  • The author's personal journey highlights how ruthless prioritization, risk management, and resourcefulness, born from necessity, became foundations for financial stability.
    — Kristin Vance Richards, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • In Season 2, the ruthless, backstabbing family behind a beauty brand — and an underground trafficking ring — will face a reckoning.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 28 July 2026
Definition of ruthless
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.

Browse Nearby Words

butchering
butcherly
butchers
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Cite this Entry

“Butcherly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butcherly. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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