noun
brunt
bruhnt
noun
1
The main force or worst part of something difficult, usually in the phrase "bear the brunt".
"Coastal towns bore the brunt of the storm."
"Junior staff often bear the brunt of a company's cost cuts."
How to Use Brunt
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe heaviest or most damaging part of something bad, almost always paired with "bear".
Common pairings
bear the brunt of
take the brunt
Word Forms
brunted past tense, brunts plural, Brunts plural, brunts singular
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Coastal towns bore the _____ of the storm.
Etymology
From Middle English brunt, meaning a sudden blow or attack, likely linked to an Old Norse word for rushing forward violently.