brutal
adjective
bru·tal ˈbrü-tᵊl 
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
John Milton brutally
ˈbrü-tᵊl-ē
adverb 
Synonyms
- bitter
- burdensome
- cruel
- excruciating
- grievous
- grim
- hard
- hardhanded
- harsh
- heavy
- inhuman
- murderous
- onerous
- oppressive
- rough
- rugged
- searing
- severe
- stiff
- tough
- trying
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web For the half-million Los Angeles County residents who take the bus each day, waiting at a bus stop with no shade structure can be brutal. Sammy Rothstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2022 The offense was brutal, to say the least, in the red zone. Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2022 The Big Ten released its conference men's basketball schedule on Thursday and the Hoosiers will finish with a February and March that could be brutal. Dustin Dopirak, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Sep. 2022 Bay Bridge traffic was brutal, so the player decided to take BART. Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Sep. 2022 Broadcast news can be brutal on one’s personal life. Rodney Ho, ajc, 8 Sep. 2022 Alabama’s 55-0 win over the defending Mountain West champions was, at times, brutal. Michael Casagrande | Mcasagrande@al.com, al, 4 Sep. 2022 Myanmar’s military, also known the Tatmadaw, has been brutal in its recent crackdown of opposition forces. Regine Cabato, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 What followed was a gory display of a brutal death as Aemma bled out. Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2022 See More
Sammy Rothstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2022 The offense was brutal, to say the least, in the red zone. Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2022 The Big Ten released its conference men's basketball schedule on Thursday and the Hoosiers will finish with a February and March that could be brutal. Dustin Dopirak, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Sep. 2022 Bay Bridge traffic was brutal, so the player decided to take BART. Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Sep. 2022 Broadcast news can be brutal on one’s personal life. Rodney Ho, ajc, 8 Sep. 2022 Alabama’s 55-0 win over the defending Mountain West champions was, at times, brutal. Michael Casagrande | Mcasagrande@al.com, al, 4 Sep. 2022 Myanmar’s military, also known the Tatmadaw, has been brutal in its recent crackdown of opposition forces. Regine Cabato, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 What followed was a gory display of a brutal death as Aemma bled out. Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French, from Medieval Latin brutalis, from Latin brutus — more at brute
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
brutal
adjective
bru·tal ˈbrü-tᵊl
: cruel and harsh
brutal treatment
brutally
adverb
as in harshly
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering the prisoners were treated brutally at the hands of the guards Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- harshly
- severely
- oppressively
- hard
- ruthlessly
- ill
- sternly
- mercilessly
- savagely
- viciously
- pitilessly
- heartlessly
- roughly
- stiffly
- aggressively
- inhumanly
- abusively
- inhumanely
- unmercifully
- callously
- unsparingly
- strongly
- insensitively
- tyrannically
- grimly
- brutishly
- unfeelingly
- obdurately
- hardly
- firmly
- uncharitably
- cold-bloodedly
- determinedly
- toughly
- resolutely
- decidedly
- assertively
- insensately
- hard-heartedly
- gruffly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lightly
- mildly
- gently
- leniently
- softly
- lovingly
- tenderly
- graciously
- kindly
- considerately
- benevolently
- mercifully
- cordially
- sympathetically
- compassionately
- humanely
- clemently
- charitably
- understandingly
- tolerantly
- benignantly
- softheartedly