brutality
noun
bru·tal·i·ty
brü-ˈta-lə-tē 
plural brutalities
1
: the quality or state of being brutal
2
: a brutal act or course of action
Examples of brutality in a Sentence
the brutalities of a prison
the police were accused of brutality for using excessive force in making arrests
Recent Examples on the Web
Jim Chanin and John Burris, a pair of civil rights attorneys who first litigated the police brutality cases, both acknowledged that oversight could potentially end within the year.
—
Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
The movie is happy to have Linda commit acts of brutality to preserve her place on top, but what is true equality if not allowing your anti-heroine to be in all ways just as monstrously self-interested as the men?
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
To overthrow a government that uses brutality and coercion to cling to power and whose militancy had made their country an international pariah, impoverishing its citizens.
—Molly Hunter, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026
Now the president and his aides encourage brutality.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brutality
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.
Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
The movie is happy to have Linda commit acts of brutality to preserve her place on top, but what is true equality if not allowing your anti-heroine to be in all ways just as monstrously self-interested as the men?
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
To overthrow a government that uses brutality and coercion to cling to power and whose militancy had made their country an international pariah, impoverishing its citizens.
—Molly Hunter, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026
Now the president and his aides encourage brutality.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brutality
Cite this Entry
“Brutality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brutality. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
brutality
noun
bru·tal·i·ty
brü-ˈtal-ət-ē
plural brutalities
1
: the quality or state of being brutal
2
: a brutal act or course of action
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
