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
The sly blend of beauty and brutality is also apparent in the film’s sound design.
—
Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
The protagonist, Frannie’s, story begins in a plantation in Jamaica, the brutality of which is chillingly evoked, but by moving much of the novel’s action to London, Sara Collins helps show just how tightly interwoven Black Caribbean history is with the history of the UK.
—Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
Throughout, Hadi calls attention to the brutality that’s endemic in Iraqi daily life under a dictatorship.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
The former San Francisco quarterback raised his voice against racial injustice and police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem in 2016.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brutality
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Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
The protagonist, Frannie’s, story begins in a plantation in Jamaica, the brutality of which is chillingly evoked, but by moving much of the novel’s action to London, Sara Collins helps show just how tightly interwoven Black Caribbean history is with the history of the UK.
—Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
Throughout, Hadi calls attention to the brutality that’s endemic in Iraqi daily life under a dictatorship.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
The former San Francisco quarterback raised his voice against racial injustice and police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem in 2016.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 10 Feb. 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 18 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
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