brutal

adjective

bru·​tal ˈbrü-tᵊl How to pronounce brutal (audio)
Synonyms of brutal
1
: suitable to one who lacks intelligence, sensitivity, or compassion : befitting a brute: such as
a
: cruel, cold-blooded
a brutal attack
b
: harsh, severe
brutal weather
c
: unpleasantly accurate and incisive
the brutal truth
d
: very bad or unpleasant
a brutal mistake
e
: grossly ruthless or unfeeling
a brutal slander
2
archaic : typical of beasts : animal
Thee, Serpent … to me so friendly grown above the rest of brutal kind …—John Milton
brutally
ˈbrü-tᵊl-ē How to pronounce brutal (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of brutal

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brutal, brutish, bestial, feral mean characteristic of an animal in nature, action, or instinct.

brutal applies to people, their acts, or their words and suggests a lack of intelligence, feeling, or humanity.

a senseless and brutal war

brutish stresses likeness to an animal in low intelligence, in base appetites, and in behavior based on instinct.

brutish stupidity

bestial suggests a state of degradation unworthy of humans and fit only for beasts.

bestial depravity

feral suggests the savagery or ferocity of wild animals.

the struggle to survive unleashed their feral impulses

Examples of brutal in a Sentence

Sailors sometimes faced brutal punishments like whipping. a brutal struggle for survival in the wilderness The writer describes the dangers of drugs with brutal honesty. The movie is a brutal depiction of the war. The traffic was brutal on the way to work. I had a brutal headache this morning.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Elite football demands difficult, sometimes brutal decisions. — James McNicholas, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 The brutal Korean War of 1950 to 1953 devastated the Korean Peninsula and made the Cold War global. — Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026 In what has been a brutal August for the Dodgers, the vibes were undeniably high. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 Summary In today’s brutal job market, qualifications alone aren’t enough. — Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brutal

Word History

Etymology

Middle English brutall "like an animal, bestial," borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin brūtālis "brutish, bestial," from brūtum "brute beast" (derivative of Latin brūtus "heavy, inert, devoid of intelligence or feeling, brutish") + Latin -ālis -al entry 1 — more at brute entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of brutal was in the 15th century

Rhymes for brutal

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Browse Nearby Words

brutage
brutal
brutalise
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Brutal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brutal. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

brutal

adjective
bru·​tal ˈbrüt-ᵊl How to pronounce brutal (audio)
: being cruel and inhuman : savage
a brutal attack
brutally
-ᵊl-ē How to pronounce brutal (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on brutal

Nglish: Translation of brutal for Spanish Speakers

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