brunt

[bruhnt]

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

brunt

/ brʌnt /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of brunt¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of brunt¹

C14: of unknown origin

Idioms and Phrases

see bear the brunt.

Example Sentences

Instead of sprinting for the Soo Locks in a race to beat the storm, he became cautious, trying to avoid the brunt of it by taking a longer northerly course.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

“Ordinary Jewish and Israeli people, not soldiers and politicians, are going to bear the brunt of that for years to come,” said Mairav Zonszein, senior Israel analyst at the International Crisis Group.

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Unless these cuts are reversed as part of the shutdown negotiations, the brunt of them will be felt in the coming years.

Read more on Barron's

When the governor of Texas says the state is unfairly bearing the brunt of all these new border crossers, he has a point.

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The province of Cebu, which suffered the brunt of the damage, declared a state of calamity early on Wednesday, after thousands spent the night on the streets amid repeated aftershocks.

Read more on BBC