brute 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbrüt How to pronounce brute (audio)
Definition of brutenext
1
as in brutal
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others brute attacks on innocent civilians

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

brute

2 of 2

noun

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

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 brute
Adjective
Unlike modern fighters that balance agility, stealth, and sensor fusion, the MiG-25 was engineered around brute force. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 June 2026 Similarly, history’s greatest leaders understand the absolute limits of brute force. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 June 2026
Noun
Even the consumer-level codes that encrypt your online banking are so hard to break that every computer on the planet working together would need longer than the age of the universe to brute-force them apart. — David M. Ewalt, Scientific American, 19 May 2026 Historically speaking, the Allied Supreme Commander wasn’t considered an angry brute so much as a steady diplomat who was capable of sudden, persuasive rage. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for brute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brute
  1. brutal
  2. feral
  3. animal
  4. villain
  5. savage
  6. brutish
  7. creature
  8. monster
Adjective
  • And Addy, perhaps the most brutal American Girl story, is enslaved.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • In January, the government suppressed huge nationwide protests in a brutal crackdown that left thousands dead.
    — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 3 July 2026
Definition of brutal
Adjective
  • The adult animation follows the trials and tribulations of a group of feral British cats from all walks of society, who seek companionship while ruminating on everyday life.
    — Rick Ellis, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • Almost immediately, her half-feral dragon attacks Moondancer.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 June 2026
Definition of feral
Noun
  • Rabies can also be transmitted through direct contact with brain or nervous system tissue from an infected animal.
    — Kelli Arseneau, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • The animals have been seen on airport runways, walking on golf courses, roaming near schools and causing panic in supermarkets and hot spring resorts almost on a daily basis.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Definition of animal
Noun
  • There are probably easier ways to mount a crime thriller steeped in gritty realism than centering it on a villain made of gas.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026
  • That doesn’t mean Netherlands players are villains, or anything less than heroes for their country.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of villain
Adjective
  • The Yellow Death has disfigured the population, and soldiers in white-and-red tunics serve the savage Duke of Tviot.
    — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • Josefowicz, in her decathlon of a performance, brought Ligeti’s savage discontinuities to the surface.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Definition of savage
Adjective
  • If the end was coming for me now, to rescind all the grace I’d been given, then the tractor was a brutish way to go.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 June 2026
  • And to complete the old-school feeling, this brutish bulldog is built by AC Cars, one of the world’s longest standing auto manufacturers.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 June 2026
Definition of brutish
Noun
  • After all, the cove belongs to the sea, the habitat of the creatures in question.
    — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 July 2026
  • Or perhaps more accurately, like a gleeful romp with friends through a haunted-house attraction at a regional fair, with various creepy creatures leaping suddenly out of the darkness.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026
Definition of creature
Noun
  • Go on, put the 131-cube (2,147 cc) monster engine into that one.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
  • There’s no way the doll monsters at the pond were the whole point of the Lake of Tears, right?
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of monster

Browse Nearby Words

brutally
brute
brutes
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Cite this Entry

“Brute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brute. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of brute for Spanish Speakers

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