Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Extremely ruthless or cruel.
- adjective Crude or unfeeling in manner or speech.
- adjective Harsh; unrelenting.
- adjective Disagreeably precise or penetrating.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Pertaining to or resembling a brute; brutish: as, brutal nature; “brutal kind,”
- Hence—2. Savage; cruel; inhuman; unfeeling: as, brutal passions; brutal manners.
- Rude; harsh; coarse; crude.
- =Syn.2. Brutish, Beastly, etc. (see
brute ); unfeeling, ruthless, rude, rough, gross, merciless, barbarous.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Of or pertaining to a brute.
- adjective Like a brute; savage; cruel; inhuman; brutish; unfeeling; merciless; gross.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Savagely
violent ,vicious ,ruthless , orcruel - adjective
Crude or unfeeling in manner or speech. - adjective
Harsh ;unrelenting - adjective Disagreeably
precise orpenetrating - adjective music, figuratively In extreme metal, to describe the speed of the music and the density of riffs.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective disagreeably direct and precise
- adjective harsh
- adjective (of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
- adjective resembling a beast; showing lack of human sensibility
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word brutal.
Examples
-
Organisers have called for a general strike in Oakland one day next week over what they called the "brutal and vicious" treatment of protesters there.
-
When you use the word "brutal" to describe an extra 15 minutes of commuting time, what word is left to adequately describe the repeated violent rape of a 15 year old that leaves her unable to walk and unable to bear children?
Lamar Vest: She's My Sister: Bringing Scripture Based Healing To Rape Survivors Lamar Vest 2011
-
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says world powers must show the Syrian government that there are consequences for what she called a "brutal crackdown" on civilians.
Clinton Urges World Reaction to Syria's 'Brutal' Crackdown 2011
-
Clinton said last week in Rome world powers must show the Syrian government that there are consequences for what she called a "brutal crackdown" on civilians.
-
When you use the word "brutal" to describe an extra 15 minutes of commuting time, what word is left to adequately describe the repeated violent rape of a 15 year old that leaves her unable to walk and unable to bear children?
Lamar Vest: She's My Sister: Bringing Scripture Based Healing To Rape Survivors Lamar Vest 2011
-
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says world powers must show the Syrian government that there are consequences for what she called a "brutal crackdown" on civilians.
Clinton Urges World Reaction to Syria's 'Brutal' Crackdown 2011
-
And the leaders here are expressing both outrage and shock at what they call the brutal murder of two of their finest.
-
Mr. Bush speaking just outside the White House, he said there was no justification for what he called the brutal execution of a civilian Mr. Bush said was in Iraq trying to help it on its way to freedom and democracy.
-
The committee found that Mamasela was alone in his evidence that all Vlakplaas group members and a members of Security Police were involved in what he described as a brutal torture and murder of the deceased after they were abducted.
-
Q Just to follow up on that, Chirac said this morning in London that France is opposed to what they call brutal methods, in particular the use of force and sanctions.
Press Briefing By Mike Mccurry ITY National Archives 1997
fearraigh commented on the word brutal
In Ireland (especially Dublin), also a synonym for 'terrible' or 'awful'.
December 13, 2006
parody commented on the word brutal
Can also mean awesome in a dark way.
December 30, 2006
Prolagus commented on the word brutal
In the mud, on your knees
Trying hard not to please
Anyone, all the time
Being a rebel's fine
But you go all the way to being brutal.
(Lazy line painter Jane, by Belle and Sebastian)
November 13, 2008