Brutality is cruel and violent treatment or behaviour. A brutality is an instance of cruel and violent treatment or behaviour.
...police brutality.
...the atrocities and brutalities committed by a former regime.
Synonyms: cruelty, atrocity, ferocity, savagery More Synonyms of brutality
brutality in American English
(bruˈtæləti)
noun
1.
the condition or quality of being brutal
2. Word forms: pluralbruˈtalities
a brutal or savage act, treatment, etc.
Examples of 'brutality' in a sentence
brutality
There is no doubt that a culture of police brutality contributes to the atmosphere of violence.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They can become quite important players but not through violence or brutality.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The number of demonstrators swelled after the perceived brutality of the police.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The force is known for its corruption and brutality.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You only had to look around the ward to see the brutality of war.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But as times goes on he becomes increasingly disenchanted with the brutality of the regime.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The film focuses on the journey a group makes to escape the brutality of war.
The Sun (2015)
Countless other cases of alleged police brutality and racial discrimination continue to be highlighted daily on social media.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Charities and human rights groups have accused the government and police of brutality in clearing the makeshift camps.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She has become a worldwide symbol of the regime 's brutality.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
To protect me from all the gruesome... the brutality of the war.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Reports of the regime 's brutality also began to surface.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This takeover was greeted with indifference by city governments, and ineffective brutality by the police.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
It shines a light on the regime 's brutality and exposes its hypocrisy to its own people.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They are all incredibly polite and friendly, a far cry from the brutality of the police.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Record numbers of police officers are being forced out of their job because of corruption, brutality and incompetence.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Despite the notorious brutality and corruption of his 15 years in power, he still has a significant following.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Some scenes involving extreme violence and brutality were difficult to film but I was always conscious of keeping my opinions to myself and not being judgmental.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
About half of those who turn out on April 5 are likely to have spent all their lives in a country ravaged by war or brutality.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
brutality
British English: brutality NOUN
Brutality is cruel and violent treatment or behaviour.
…acts of unspeakable brutality.
American English: brutality
Brazilian Portuguese: brutalidade
Chinese: 残暴
European Spanish: brutalidad
French: brutalité
German: Brutalität
Italian: brutalità
Japanese: 残忍性
Korean: 무자비함
European Portuguese: brutalidade
Latin American Spanish: brutalidad
(noun)
The Roman arena played host to appalling brutality in the name of entertainment.
Synonyms
cruelty
laws against cruelty to animals
atrocity
stomach-churning tales of atrocity and massacre
ferocity
surprised by the ferocity of the attack
savagery
the sheer savagery of war
ruthlessness
barbarism
Not the death penalty: barbarism must not be met with barbarism.
inhumanity
the inhumanity of war
barbarity
the barbarity of war
viciousness
the intensity and viciousness of this attack
brutishness
bloodthirstiness
savageness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of atrocity
Definition
behaviour that is wicked or cruel
stomach-churning tales of atrocity and massacre
Synonyms
cruelty,
wrong,
horror,
brutality,
wrongdoing,
enormity,
savagery,
ruthlessness,
wickedness,
inhumanity,
infamy,
transgression,
barbarity,
viciousness,
villainy,
baseness,
monstrousness,
heinousness,
nefariousness,
shockingness,
atrociousness,
fiendishness,
barbarousness,
grievousness,
villainousness
in the sense of barbarism
Definition
the condition of being backward, coarse, or ignorant
Not the death penalty: barbarism must not be met with barbarism.