brutalize

verb

ˈbrü-tᵊl-ˌīz How to pronounce brutalize (audio)
Definition of brutalizenext
1
as in to humiliate
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to abuse
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon Red Cross workers reported that prisoners had been brutalized

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 brutalize The Original brutalized El Grande Americano II back inside the ring. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 31 May 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 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 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 See All Example Sentences for brutalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brutalize
  1. humiliate
  2. abuse
  3. dehumanize
  4. bully
  5. poison
  6. mistreat
  7. oppress
  8. torture
Verb
  • Israel must leave humiliated and defeated — and that is exactly what will happen.
    — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 26 June 2026
  • 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.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 June 2026
Definition of humiliate
Verb
  • For more on how attackers can abuse connected devices, see our report on how the FBI warned that more than 1 million Android devices were hijacked by malware.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Some dogs fear brooms, vacuum cleaners or other household products, particularly if they’ve been hurt or abused in the past.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
Definition of abuse
Verb
  • His followers responded with a steady stream of invective, describing Atkin and Jammi in misogynistic and, at times, dehumanizing language.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
  • As Israel and the United States joined forces to attack Iran, and Israel pursued its proxies in Lebanon, rhetoric dehumanizing Jews also spiked.
    — Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 29 June 2026
Definition of dehumanize
Verb
  • This was a rabid, partisan home-soil advantage that flat-out bullied the squad into surviving.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
  • They got bullied in that one, showing a tremendous lack of physicality.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2026
Definition of bully
Verb
  • 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).
    — Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • 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).
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 June 2026
Definition of poison
Verb
  • Platner is also an unfaithful spouse who mistreats women.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2026
  • One example would be laws prohibiting humans from mistreating AIs psychologically or physically.
    — Rob Toews, Forbes.com, 22 June 2026
Definition of mistreat
Verb
  • Man oppressed woman legally, economically, socially, educationally, morally, professionally and religiously.
    — Brian DeLay, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
  • Your structure sorts the whole world into two boxes, oppressor and oppressed.
    — Joyce Kamanitz, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2026
Definition of oppress
Verb
  • What unfolds is a unique horror story that is unbelievably entertaining, psychologically torturing and incredibly fun.
    — David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
  • The brutal nature of her murder—she was believed to have been tortured, and her body was cut in half and provocatively posed—helped spark a media frenzy.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 June 2026
Definition of torture

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Cite this Entry

“Brutalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutalize. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of brutalize for Spanish Speakers

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