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
brutal
adjective
1
as in harsh
difficult to endure brutal hard labor in the hot sun Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- harsh
- tough
- oppressive
- searing
- rough
- cruel
- severe
- hard
- grim
- painful
- murderous
- inhuman
- trying
- excruciating
- heavy
- bleak
- onerous
- bitter
- rugged
- burdensome
- grievous
- stiff
- unbearable
- unpleasant
- uncomfortable
- rigorous
- inhospitable
- spartan
- strict
- bad
- hardhanded
- austere
- forbidding
- agonizing
- discomforting
- overwhelming
- crushing
- stringent
- harrowing
- heartbreaking
- tortuous
- biting
- inclement
- intemperate
- intolerable
- wild
- grinding
- comfortless
- insufferable
- hostile
- wretched
- unendurable
- heartrending
- disagreeable
- unfriendly
- insupportable
- wearing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- easy
- soft
- light
- pleasant
- luxurious
- comfortable
- friendly
- peaceful
- agreeable
- genial
- cozy
- mild
- hospitable
- gentle
- tolerable
- bearable
- moderate
- relaxing
- restful
- painless
- calm
- temperate
- snug
- balmy
- endurable
- reposeful
- clement
2
as in cruel
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others a brutal tyrant who drove his country to revolt Synonyms & Similar Words
- cruel
- vicious
- savage
- ruthless
- merciless
- ferocious
- sadistic
- barbaric
- murderous
- inhuman
- inhumane
- barbarous
- brute
- atrocious
- heartless
- oppressive
- harsh
- truculent
- fiendish
- hateful
- wanton
- pitiless
- butcherly
- malicious
- grim
- fell
- bloodthirsty
- unfeeling
- sanguinary
- cutthroat
- red in tooth and claw
- vindictive
- spiteful
- draconian
- malignant
- malevolent
- hard-hearted
- nasty
- ironhearted
- malign
- sanguine
- stonyhearted
- catty
- mean
- heavy-handed
- draconic
- despiteful
- hardhanded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- kind
- sympathetic
- humane
- benign
- compassionate
- warm
- merciful
- kindhearted
- lenient
- benignant
- tenderhearted
- peaceful
- tender
- good-hearted
- warmhearted
- charitable
- clement
- peaceable
- pitying
- pacific
3
as in brute
having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal a coarse, brutal man who has no sense of what it means to be refined or sensitive or cultured Synonyms & Similar Words
- brute
- brutish
- cruel
- savage
- bestial
- feral
- vicious
- animalistic
- beastly
- animal
- subhuman
- crass
- physical
- ferine
- sensual
- sadistic
- swinish
- barbaric
- inhumane
- coarse
- barbarous
- heartless
- rude
- corporal
- corporeal
- bodily
- vulgar
- carnal
- crude
- gross
- uncouth
- wanton
- uncultured
- fleshly
- unrefined
- uncultivated
- lowbred
- ill-bred
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- great
- sublime
- high
- noble
- chivalrous
- magnanimous
- lofty
- gallant
- elevated
- spiritual
- angelic
- kind
- compassionate
- benevolent
- angelical
- lordly
- high-minded
- greathearted
- beneficent
- softhearted
- kindhearted
- kindly
- benignant
- tenderhearted
- genteel
- polished
- refined
- cultured
- cultivated
- good-hearted
- well-bred
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of brutal are bestial, brutish, and feral. While all these words 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
The words bestial and brutal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bestial suggests a state of degradation unworthy of humans and fit only for beasts.
bestial depravity
The words brutish and brutal can be used in similar contexts, but brutish stresses likeness to an animal in low intelligence, in base appetites, and in behavior based on instinct.
brutish stupidity
Although the words feral and brutal have much in common, feral suggests the savagery or ferocity of wild animals.
the struggle to survive unleashed their feral impulses