brunt

American  

[bruhnt] / brʌnt /

noun

1. the main force or impact, as of an attack or blow.

   His arm took the brunt of the blow.

   Synonyms:

   burden, stress, thrust

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brunt British  

/ brʌnt /

noun

1. the main force or shock of a blow, attack, etc (esp in the phrase bear the brunt of )

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brunt Idioms  

1. see bear the brunt.

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Etymology

Origin of brunt

1275–1325; Middle English; perhaps originally sexual assault; akin to Old Norse brundr, German Brunft heat, ruttish state, Old English brunetha heat, itching; cognate with Old High German bronado. See burn ¹

Explanation

If you are the oldest child, you might bear the brunt of your parents' anger, even if you are not the instigator of the misdeed. Brunt means the worst part of something. When Canadian geese fly south, they travel in a V-formation, with the bird at point bearing the brunt of the headwind. One way to remember the word brunt is that words that sound like it—grunt and blunt—are also about being tough or absorbing pain.

Example Sentences

EM economies are taking the brunt of the whiplash.

From Barron's • May 23, 2026

Southern California has caught the brunt of the surge.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

Chief executive Michael Nicholson, major shareholder Dermot Desmond and former chairman Peter Lawwell have shouldered the brunt of the criticism.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

For decades, coastal states with hurricanes bore the brunt of rate increases, while inland states enjoyed cheap coverage.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

Samir took the brunt of the collision in his belly.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri