1
as in brutal
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others
brute attacks on innocent civilians
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in feral
having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal
a man of brute instinct, he deals with conflict the only way he knows how—by physical force
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in animal
one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings
it is a fundamental sense of right and wrong that separates us from the brutes
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in villain
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
leave him alone, you brute!
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brute
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
Tactics remained an afterthought, chucked aside in favor of brute force and the long ball.
—Pablo Maurer, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2025
The same Cromwellian brutes that persecuted witches in the English village of Warboys in 1589 are alive and well today to bully LGBTQ folks, immigrants, physicians trying to save lives of pregnant women and even scientists like Dr. Anthony Fauci.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brute
Adjective
Greer has points in three of Florida’s past four games while still showcasing his brute force on the ice (33 hits in nine games).
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
Tactics remained an afterthought, chucked aside in favor of brute force and the long ball.
—Pablo Maurer, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Noun
Slinging a sports coat over his pajamas, Long pulls up to a curb and finds Tay (Dustin Nguyen), the Vietnamese speaker, plus two silent brutes, Eddie (Phi Vu) and Aden (Dali Benssalah), who muscle into his car and take over everything: the seating arrangements, the air freshener and their driver.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2025
The same Cromwellian brutes that persecuted witches in the English village of Warboys in 1589 are alive and well today to bully LGBTQ folks, immigrants, physicians trying to save lives of pregnant women and even scientists like Dr. Anthony Fauci.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brute
Adjective
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Here lies the brutal dilemma of change: Leaders see systems; people feel emotions.—
Sahar Andrade,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
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As the state on Thursday summed up the brutal details that made up the prosecution’s case, a relative walked out of the courtroom with a loud scream, causing Petrone to tell the jury to ignore the outburst.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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Saoirse could be totally feral and go so high, and then be so subtle and go there in a very real way with all those emotions.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
5 June 2025
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Unlike feral cats, which live in colonies, and avoid human contact, stray cats often hang out near homes.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
Noun
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The county’s three existing pet sale retailers can continue selling animals but face new restrictions, including licensing and inspection requirements and new vaccine and health requirements for animals.—
Ryan Ballogg,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 June 2025
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All the animals, including Thunder, were seized and the homeowner was charged with felony animal cruelty and three counts of confining animals without proper food, care, and sustenance, officials said.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
5 June 2025
Noun
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New threats emerge, including a ruthless new villain (Bill Skarsgård) and a blind assassin from Wick’s past, played by Donnie Yen in a standout performance.—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
6 June 2025
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Nicholas Hoult plays the film’s villain, the megalomaniac super-genius Lex Luthor.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.—
Tom Yulsman,
Discover Magazine,
27 Dec. 2022
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The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2022
Adjective
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In Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic, Forest have two brutish, aerially dominant centre-backs, but that did not prevent Tottenham from launching crosses into the box.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
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In a rare moment of vulnerability, Xan then gives voice to the deep well of shame and self-hate that bubbles beneath his and his brother’s brutish veneer.—
Bartolomeo Sala,
The Dial,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Even more astonishing, the largest migration on Earth occurs daily as deep-sea creatures rise to the surface under cover of night to make their way to other areas.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
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Ultimately, this first installment has laid the foundation for the theme of nature vs. nurture and answering the age old question of whether man and creature can get along.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
8 June 2025
Noun
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Aptly credited, The Stranger (Brian Villalobos) is only part of that problem and not the centerpiece practical effects portion of this film that monster fans should look forward to.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
8 June 2025
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These are no longer simple monster features with slight tints of horror.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brute. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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