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

Nvidia is still up 32% this year, but shares have borne the brunt of the recent fears that the wave of spending on AI infrastructure won’t translate into profits in coming years.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Business leaders face a nervous final few days before the chancellor's second Budget, having borne the brunt of a brutal set of tax hikes this time last year.

Read more on BBC

Scientists say the world’s hot zones are bearing the brunt of a warming climate.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The pirate to whom the squawk box was attached bore the brunt of the abuse, as the parrot flapped in a panic around his head.

Read more on Literature

The brunt of storm impacts came around 8 p.m.

Read more on Los Angeles Times