1
as in dehumanizing
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 abusing
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 brutalizing
While Roger Federer is depicted as James Bond, in a tux, elegant and wrinkle-free, Nadal is called Rambo, ripped and relentless, brutalizing the ball and opponents alike.
—
Stuart Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Euthanasia decisions are already brutalizing for dog owners, and those decisions may become even more fraught.
—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
The charge comes as some advocates and community members have clamored for Illinois officials to pursue criminal cases against immigration agents who have been accused of brutalizing city and suburban residents during their 64-day Operation Midway Blitz in the fall.
—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
Art the Clown likes brutalizing women.
—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
7 Nov. 2025
He was fired a few years later over allegations of brutalizing a suspect in custody.
—
Omar Jimenez,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
Lesnar, who returned with a violent message on SmackDown, made his intentions clear by brutalizing Cena and issuing the challenge.
—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
Stuart Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Euthanasia decisions are already brutalizing for dog owners, and those decisions may become even more fraught.
—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
The charge comes as some advocates and community members have clamored for Illinois officials to pursue criminal cases against immigration agents who have been accused of brutalizing city and suburban residents during their 64-day Operation Midway Blitz in the fall.
—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
Art the Clown likes brutalizing women.
—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
7 Nov. 2025
He was fired a few years later over allegations of brutalizing a suspect in custody.
—
Omar Jimenez,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
Lesnar, who returned with a violent message on SmackDown, made his intentions clear by brutalizing Cena and issuing the challenge.
—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brutalizing
Verb
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His followers responded with a steady stream of invective, describing Atkin and Jammi in misogynistic and, at times, dehumanizing language.
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As Israel and the United States joined forces to attack Iran, and Israel pursued its proxies in Lebanon, rhetoric dehumanizing Jews also spiked.
Verb
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Witt claimed that Golubski — who in 2024 faced trial for allegations including terrorizing and abusing Black women in KCK for decades before killing himself the day it was scheduled to begin — also abused her late cousin, Elaine Greene.
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The parents are also accused of abusing their 5-year-old daughter, who is also morbidly overweight, according to the complaint.
Verb
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Instead of demanding personal fealty or humiliating them to assert personal dominance, Lincoln absorbed their egos and occasional slights, elevating their talents and turning his fiercest political adversaries into his most devoted champions.
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The autocrat delights in humiliating so many people, not least tech billionaires, including Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, who once opposed him.
Verb
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What unfolds is a unique horror story that is unbelievably entertaining, psychologically torturing and incredibly fun.
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Henry Bernard Montgomery, 38, was arraigned Monday afternoon on one count of third-degree killing/torturing animals and given a $20,000 bond with a GPS tether.
Verb
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One of Robinson's attorneys, Kathryn Nester, also represented Kouri Richins, who was convicted of poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, in March 2022.
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Lewis was accused of poisoning two white female housemates, assaulted by a white mob in response to the charge, and acquitted in court, only to then be accused of stealing art supplies and prohibited from reënrolling.
Verb
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This legislation helps our state meet current challenges and ensures bullying via AI is addressed in the school code.
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Muslim students continue to report the highest rates of bullying among religious groups in the country.
Cite this Entry
“Brutalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutalizing. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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