1
as in brutal
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others
brute attacks on innocent civilians
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in feral
having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal
a man of brute instinct, he deals with conflict the only way he knows how—by physical force
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in animal
one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings
it is a fundamental sense of right and wrong that separates us from the brutes
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in villain
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
leave him alone, you brute!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of brute
Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2025
The insistence that only brute force can end terrorism ignores a wealth of evidence indicating otherwise.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Dov Friedman, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2014
One million doctors to give care, 1.4 million brutes in cubicles doing their best to stop doctors from giving that care.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for brute
Adjective
Lacking a majority in Parliament, Mr. Yoon needed a military willing to use brute force on his behalf.
—Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2025
The insistence that only brute force can end terrorism ignores a wealth of evidence indicating otherwise.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
Maliki is a divisive brute whom Iran supports to the hilt.
—Dov Friedman, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2014
One million doctors to give care, 1.4 million brutes in cubicles doing their best to stop doctors from giving that care.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for brute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brute
Adjective
-
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway fared better than the S & P 500 in a brutal week as investors embraced the safety of a cash-rich conglomerate while President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariffs wreaked havoc on Wall Street.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2025
-
This all comes as the economy reels from Trump’s sweeping tariffs on U.S. trading partners after brutal few days for the stock market.—
The Hill Staff,
The Hill,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
In America alone, there are currently between 60 and 100 million stray and feral cats, completely left to their fate.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
-
South Florida Wildlands Association responded to a comment that the mystery animal could be a feral cat, expressing some of their doubts.—
Kelli Bender,
People.com,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Trump has not previously been counted among the zoo’s critics, who tend to lament the life of captivity suffered by its animals, not their potential indoctrination.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
6 Apr. 2025
-
From more types of materials players could use to build and decorate to more animals that inhabited the world to more biomes for players to explore.—
Issy van der Velde,
Rolling Stone,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Whereas Serena could easily have emerged as a one-note villain, from the beginning of her tenure on the series, Strahovski has imbued Serena with a soulfulness that often puts the audience uncomfortably on her side, despite her reprehensible actions.—
Scarlett Harris,
IndieWire,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Even when a big threat does arrive on the scene, the heroes aren't there right away, so plenty of innocent people get hurt before a villain gets brought to justice.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.—
Tom Yulsman,
Discover Magazine,
27 Dec. 2022
-
The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2022
Adjective
-
The first 54 holes at Palmer’s brutish layout proved those off their game will be exposed.—
Edgar Thompson,
Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2025
-
But there’s nothing truly masculine about these brutish low-lifes who oppose everything that makes for responsible manhood.—
The Editors,
National Review,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
In the game, players take on the role of planeswalkers, powerful spellcasters who summon creatures, cast spells and use artifacts to defeat their opponents.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2025
-
The fifth movement is his funeral: a witches’ sabbath replete with monsters and creatures, with an undead version of his beloved as their ringleader.—
Angelica Frey,
JSTOR Daily,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Natalie and a real-estate agent named Dawn (Danielle Brooks), in search of the missing Henry, make their way to the Overworld, too, and the four team up with Steve in a painfully generic adventure to fight off monsters, find another Crystal, save the Overworld (and Dennis), and get back home.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2025
-
The space monsters are also entirely terrifying, gestating inside young suns to hideously emerge as massive space insects.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brute. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share