brutal

American  

[broot-l] / ˈbrut l /

adjective

1. savage; cruel; inhuman.

   a brutal attack on the village.

   Synonyms:

   barbarous, brutish, ferocious

   Antonyms:

   kind

2. crude; coarse.

   brutal language.

   Synonyms:

   uncivil, rough, rude, gross

3. harsh; ferocious.

   brutal criticism; brutal weather.

4. taxing, demanding, or exhausting.

   They're having a brutal time making ends meet.

5. irrational; unreasoning.

6. of or relating to lower animals.

   Synonyms:

   animal, beastly, bestial

   Antonyms:

   human

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brutal British  

/ ˈbruːtəl /

adjective

1. cruel; vicious; savage

2. extremely honest or coarse in speech or manner

3. harsh; severe; extreme

   brutal cold

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Related Words

See cruel.

Other Word Forms

• brutality noun
• brutally adverb
• hyperbrutal adjective
• hyperbrutally adverb
• nonbrutal adjective
• nonbrutally adverb
• overbrutal adjective
• overbrutally adverb

Etymology

Origin of brutal

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin brūtālis; equivalent to brute ¹ + -al ¹

Example Sentences

"It's brutal, professional sport because if you get 5% wrong it's gone. We probably believed the hype from the first week too much. We can't let the noise in now."

From BBC

This latest wreck is believed to have been caused by the series of brutal storms that have battered the Atlantic coast of the UK and Europe since January.

From BBC

Robinhood generates a solid chunk of its revenue from crypto trading, and the brutal selloff in that asset class weighed on the top line.

From Barron's

Moderna needs all the help it can get after a brutal few years.

From Barron's

Politics has of course always had a mucky and brutal side to it, as well as one of public service which works earnestly to improve people's lives.

From BBC

Related Words

• barbarous
• callous
• ferocious
• harsh
• inhuman
• merciless
• rough
• rude
• ruthless
• savage
• severe
• vicious