adjective
Common
brutal
BROO-tuhl
Brutal (adjective) means Extremely violent, cruel, or harsh. Example: “Climbers faced brutal winds and freezing temperatures near the top.”
adjective
1
Extremely violent, cruel, or harsh.
"Climbers faced brutal winds and freezing temperatures near the top."
"The film depicts the brutal conditions in the prison camp."
"It was a brutal winter, with weeks of sub-zero temperatures."
2
Blunt and unpleasant, but honest.
"Her review was brutal but fair, and it improved my essay."
"He gave her some brutal but useful feedback on the draft."
"Her brutal honesty can be hard to take, but she's never wrong."
How to use brutal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVery harsh, violent, or unpleasantly direct.
Common pairings
brutal honesty
brutal attack
brutal weather
brutally frank
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more brutal
- Superlative
- most brutal
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Climbers faced _____ winds and freezing temperatures near the top.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin brutalis (\"savage, stupid\"), from Latin brutus (\"dull, stupid\") — the same root that gives us \"brute.\"
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “brutal” mean?
The word “brutal” means extremely violent, cruel, or harsh. In plain terms, very harsh, violent, or unpleasantly direct.
How do you pronounce “brutal”?
“Brutal” is pronounced BROO-tuhl (/ˈbɹu.təl/ in IPA).
How do you use “brutal” in a sentence?
Here is “brutal” used in a sentence: “The film depicts the brutal conditions in the prison camp.”
What part of speech is “brutal”?
“Brutal” is an adjective.
Where does the word “brutal” come from?
The word “brutal” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin brutalis (\"savage, stupid\"), from Latin brutus (\"dull, stupid\") — the same root that gives us \"brute.\".
Is “brutal” a common word?
“Brutal” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “brutal” have?
“Brutal” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely violent, cruel, or harsh.
What is the difference between 'brutal' and 'brutish'?
'Brutal' means extremely violent, cruel, or harsh, and usually describes actions or conditions. 'Brutish' means resembling a brute in being rough, coarse, or unintelligent, and describes character or manner. An attack can be brutal, while a person's crude behaviour can be brutish.
What is the difference between 'brutal' and 'cruel'?
Both describe harshness, but 'brutal' stresses raw, physical violence or severity, while 'cruel' stresses the intention to cause pain or suffering. A blow can be brutal in its force, and a remark can be cruel in its aim to hurt.
Can 'brutal' be used in a positive way, like 'brutally honest'?
Yes. 'Brutal' can describe honesty that is blunt and unpleasant but truthful, as in 'brutally honest'. Here it signals directness without softening rather than actual violence, and the tone can even be admiring.
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