definitions
  • synonyms

brutal

[ broot-l ]
/ ˈbrut l /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR brutal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

savage; cruel; inhuman: a brutal attack on the village.
crude; coarse: brutal language.
harsh; ferocious: brutal criticism; brutal weather.
taxing, demanding, or exhausting: They're having a brutal time making ends meet.
irrational; unreasoning.
of or relating to lower animals.

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RELATED WORDS

viciously, fiercely, savagely, mercilessly, relentlessly, ferociously, ruthlessly, meanly, atrociously, barbarically, barbarously, callously, diabolically, heartlessly, inexorably, inhumanely, inhumanly, pitilessly, unkindly

Nearby words

brussels lace, brussels sprout, brussels sprouts, brussen, brut, brutal, brutalise, brutalism, brutality, brutalize, brutally

Origin of brutal

1425–75; late Middle English (< Middle French) < Medieval Latin brūtālis. See brute1, -al1
SYNONYMS FOR brutal
1 ferocious, brutish, barbarous.
2 gross, rude, rough, uncivil.
6 bestial, beastly, animal.
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR brutal ON THESAURUS.COM
Related forms

Synonym study

1. See cruel.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for brutally

British Dictionary definitions for brutally

brutal

/ (ˈbruːtəl) /

adjective

cruel; vicious; savage
extremely honest or coarse in speech or manner
harsh; severe; extremebrutal cold
Derived Formsbrutality, nounbrutally, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for brutally

brutal

adj.

mid-15c., in reference to the nature of animals, from Latin brutus (see brute (adj.)) + -al (1). Of persons, "fierce," 1640s. Related: Brutally.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper