1
as in humiliated
to make (someone) feel or behave more like an animal than a human being
even three years in a prison camp did not brutalize him
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in abused
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
Red Cross workers reported that prisoners had been brutalized
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brutalized
Described as a biting political thriller in the tradition of Wild in the Streets and V for Vendetta, The Hunted is set in a dystopian America where trans people are brutalized and erased to the margins of society.
—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
20 June 2026
Family Photo The family had fled the Congo after Carine, an activist, was brutalized for speaking out against the ruling regime.
—
Jim Axelrod,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
The Original brutalized El Grande Americano II back inside the ring.
—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Enslaved people were often punished, beaten, or further brutalized for showing emotion, grieving openly or resisting in visible ways.
—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
Nikitin was drugged and brutalized by his captors in the Soviet psychiatric prisons.
—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
15 Apr. 2026
However, human rights groups say migrants are being brutalized and pushed back illegally at EU borders, while legal protections are increasingly being hollowed out.
—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
At night, Yusuf goes back to his village, where his family is regularly brutalized by the local authorities, led by the snarling protomillenarian Captain Wingate (played by Robert Aramayo, whom some will recognize as the young actor who scored an upset win at the BAFTAs last month for I Swear).
—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Yes, that same night, beyond the hallowed walls of Prescott’s, people all across New York were being brutalized by HIV, falling dead from AIDS.
—
Literary Hub,
17 Mar. 2026
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
20 June 2026
Family Photo The family had fled the Congo after Carine, an activist, was brutalized for speaking out against the ruling regime.
—
Jim Axelrod,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
The Original brutalized El Grande Americano II back inside the ring.
—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Enslaved people were often punished, beaten, or further brutalized for showing emotion, grieving openly or resisting in visible ways.
—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
Nikitin was drugged and brutalized by his captors in the Soviet psychiatric prisons.
—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
15 Apr. 2026
However, human rights groups say migrants are being brutalized and pushed back illegally at EU borders, while legal protections are increasingly being hollowed out.
—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
At night, Yusuf goes back to his village, where his family is regularly brutalized by the local authorities, led by the snarling protomillenarian Captain Wingate (played by Robert Aramayo, whom some will recognize as the young actor who scored an upset win at the BAFTAs last month for I Swear).
—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Yes, that same night, beyond the hallowed walls of Prescott’s, people all across New York were being brutalized by HIV, falling dead from AIDS.
—
Literary Hub,
17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brutalized
Verb
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Israel must leave humiliated and defeated — and that is exactly what will happen.
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The novel follows 16-year-old Abby, who is left humiliated after a private photo gets shared around school.
Verb
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Bianca Graham, 30, of Astoria, abused her position at the Blythebourne Post Office in Borough Park to make some extra cash at the expense of 13 victims between August 2024 and August 2025, prosecutors say.
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Seven years later, Leonard has abused an organization, alienated a fan base and basically collected nearly $300 million of Steve Ballmer’s money and burned it.
Verb
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The Coalition for the Homeless says the city's unhoused are often dehumanized and criminalized.
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In a world that often feels fragmented and dehumanized, reclaiming this universality is an ethical act.
Verb
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Walker was abducted, raped, tortured and murdered after attending a Valentine’s Day dance with her boyfriend.
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The actual abduction was committed, according to the feds, by supermarket owner Abu Chowdhury — who’s accused of heading a kidnapping ring that also snatched and tortured two men who crossed his vengeful wife, Iffat Lubna.
Verb
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The special bond between Supergirl and her scruffy animal sidekick becomes a key plot point in Kara’s new solo movie, where Krypto is poisoned by space outlaw Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts).
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Kara Zor-El (Alcock) goes on a planet-hopping mission to save her beloved Krypto – with young and vengeful girl Ruthye (Eve Ridley) in tow – after he’s poisoned by the villainous Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts).
Verb
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They got bullied in that one, showing a tremendous lack of physicality.
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Because he was being completely bullied and demeaned and excused.
Cite this Entry
“Brutalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutalized. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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