bruiser

noun

bruis·​er ˈbrü-zər How to pronounce bruiser (audio)
: a big husky man

Examples of bruiser in a Sentence

That boy is going to be a bruiser when he grows up!
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
But acts like this work best when there’s a discernable back-and-forth—think Starlito’s deadpan baritone next to Don Trip’s sandpaper yawp, or Method Man’s sultry bruiser clearing the way for Redman’s scrappy smart-ass routine. — Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 29 Oct. 2026 Damo, a former WWE competitor, is among the bruisers that litter the MLW roster. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026 At running back, the Red Wolves are led by senior Kenyon Clay, a bruiser listed at 6-foot-1, 223 pounds, who leads the team with 99 yards on 25 carries with two touchdowns. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Sep. 2026 More than a rugged bruiser, the Canadiens need to add size while not sacrificing speed. — Arpon Basu, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bruiser

Word History

First Known Use

1742, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bruiser was in 1742

Rhymes for bruiser

See All Rhymes for bruiser

Browse Nearby Words

bruised
bruiser
bruisewort
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Cite this Entry

“Bruiser.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bruiser. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bruiser

noun
bruis·​er ˈbrü-zər How to pronounce bruiser (audio)
: a big husky person
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