BRUTAL Synonyms: 196 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'brutal' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of brutal are bestial , brutish , and feral . While all these words mean "characteristic of an animal in nature, action, or instinct," brutal applies to people, their acts, or their words and suggests a lack of intelligence, feeling, or humanity. // a senseless and brutal war

Q: When would 'bestial' be a good substitute for 'brutal'?

The words bestial and brutal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bestial suggests a state of degradation unworthy of humans and fit only for beasts. // bestial depravity

Q: In what contexts can 'brutish' take the place of 'brutal'?

The words brutish and brutal can be used in similar contexts, but brutish stresses likeness to an animal in low intelligence, in base appetites, and in behavior based on instinct. // brutish stupidity

Q: When is 'feral' a more appropriate choice than 'brutal'?

Although the words feral and brutal have much in common, feral suggests the savagery or ferocity of wild animals. // the struggle to survive unleashed their feral impulses

brutal

adjective

ˈbrü-tᵊl

Definition of brutal

as in harsh

difficult to endure brutal hard labor in the hot sun

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cruel

having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others a brutal tyrant who drove his country to revolt

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in brute

having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal a coarse, brutal man who has no sense of what it means to be refined or sensitive or cultured

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective brutal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of brutal are bestial, brutish, and feral. While all these words mean "characteristic of an animal in nature, action, or instinct," brutal applies to people, their acts, or their words and suggests a lack of intelligence, feeling, or humanity.

a senseless and brutal war

When would bestial be a good substitute for brutal?

The words bestial and brutal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bestial suggests a state of degradation unworthy of humans and fit only for beasts.

bestial depravity

In what contexts can brutish take the place of brutal?

The words brutish and brutal can be used in similar contexts, but brutish stresses likeness to an animal in low intelligence, in base appetites, and in behavior based on instinct.

brutish stupidity

When is feral a more appropriate choice than brutal?

Although the words feral and brutal have much in common, feral suggests the savagery or ferocity of wild animals.

the struggle to survive unleashed their feral impulses

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of brutal More than 50,000 people are estimated to have died across Europe’s cities during the brutal heat waves that roiled the continent this summer — making this year’s heat the region’s deadliest on record, according to a new analysis. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026 Somaliland split from Somalia in 1991 following a brutal civil war. — Mahbub Abdillahi, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Oct. 2026 Because Luke’s Diner was essentially a wooden frame without insulation—and the cast and crew constantly shuffled in and out the door—the December and January shoots on the backlot could be brutal. — Mara Reinstein, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026 But is the Russian president ready to begin serious peace negotiations to halt the brutal war in Ukraine? — David Ignatius, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brutal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for brutal

Adjective

However, perovskites are notoriously vulnerable to moisture and harsh chemical environments, posing a clear problem in seawater.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
With another harsh winter approaching, those still there face death from hunger or disease.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of harsh

Adjective

Participants fell into their roles a little too well and, after a prisoner rebellion, increasingly cruel forms of punishment from the guards and a number of students suffering mental breakdowns, the experiment was ended on the sixth day.

— Marlow Stern, Variety, 25 Oct. 2026
But these townswomen — whether the undersexed Bakerwoman (Ella Bruccoleri ) or the prim, cruel busybody the Tailor’s Wife (a deliciously scheming Elizabeth Debicki) — are deeply unhappy with their own lot in life.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of cruel

Adjective

As rules and institutions constrain less and brute power matters more, countries will seek partners to help them blunt sanctions, access critical technologies, compensate for military weaknesses, expand their room for maneuver, and resist isolation.

— Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026
Security features include free SSL certificates, daily off-site backups, DDoS protection, malware scanning, a Web Application Firewall, brute-force protection, and two-factor authentication.

— StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of brute

Adjective

The vicious cycle of the current model, of course, is that to become marketable a team needs to get and retain good players, and to do that a school has to spend money, which cycles the whole thing back to the start.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Governments were expected to rescue struggling banks, which held large amounts of sovereign debt, creating a vicious cycle.

— Jenni Reid,Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of vicious

Adjective

Thomas shocks Vision back to life, but this somehow alerts Butcherbird; Vision’s mindscape fills with oppressive red lighting, ominously circling birds, and TVs crackling with static.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
The tropical sun was oppressive, but company representatives were prepared with orange parasols, each with a dedicated barcode.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of oppressive

Adjective

Interviews are supplemented with archival clips of Perry’s screen work and interviews, and some of the show’s most searing material is conveyed in the actor’s own (previously recorded and publicized) voice.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026
The result of hours of chopping, searing, and mixing is our second annual Gear of the Year list.

— Editors of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of searing

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“Brutal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutal. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of brutal

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