noun Uncommon

brute

broot

Brute (noun) means a rough, violent, or unthinking person. Example: “The bouncer looked like a brute, but he was actually gentle and soft-spoken.”

noun

A rough, violent, or unthinking person.

"The bouncer looked like a brute, but he was actually gentle and soft-spoken."

"Stop acting like a brute and apologize."

adjective

Purely physical, with no reasoning or subtlety involved.

"The wall was knocked down with brute force alone."

"Brute strength wasn't enough — the puzzle needed cleverness."

How to use brute

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA crude, animal-like force or person, with no intelligence or finesse involved.

Common mistake

Don't confuse "brute force" (raw power/effort) with "force of habit" — different idioms entirely.

Common pairings

brute force brute strength a brute of a man

Word forms

more brute comparative, bruted past tense, brutes plural, brutes singular, most brute superlative

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The bouncer looked like a _____, but he was actually gentle and soft-spoken.

Etymology

From Latin brutus (\"dull, stupid, insensible\"), the same root behind \"brutal\" and \"brutish.\"

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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Related words

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Rhymes for brute

ute cute mute lute flute acute haute chute route minute refute astute

See all rhymes for brute →

Frequently asked questions

What does “brute” mean?

The word “brute” means a rough, violent, or unthinking person. In plain terms, a crude, animal-like force or person, with no intelligence or finesse involved.

How do you pronounce “brute”?

“Brute” is pronounced broot (/bɹut/ in IPA).

How do you use “brute” in a sentence?

Here is “brute” used in a sentence: “The bouncer looked like a brute, but he was actually gentle and soft-spoken.”

What part of speech is “brute”?

Depending on how it is used, “brute” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “brute” come from?

The word “brute” comes from Latin. From Latin brutus (\"dull, stupid, insensible\"), the same root behind \"brutal\" and \"brutish.\".

Is “brute” a common word?

“Brute” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “brute” have?

“Brute” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a rough, violent, or unthinking person.

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