brutal

adjective

SayBROO-tuhlUS/ˈbɹu.təl/UK/ˈbɹuː.təl/AUS/ˈbɹʉː.təl/

6 meanings of brutal

1
adjective
Very violent and cruel, often in a stupid, thoughtless way.
Like a bully who hits first and never stops to think.
The attack was so brutal that neighbors called the police right away.
He gave the dog a brutal kick and walked away.
Similarsavage, vicious, cruel, violent, ferocious
Oppositegentle, humane, kind
Note
2
adjective
So harsh that it never seems to stop or ease up.
Like a hill that keeps going up and never flattens out.
We faced a brutal winter with weeks of freezing wind.
The training schedule was brutal, with no rest days at all.
Similargrueling, punishing, harsh, severe, relentless
Oppositemild, easy, gentle
3
adjective
Very direct, with no effort to soften something unpleasant.
Like a mirror that shows every flaw and never makes it look nicer.
She gave me her brutal opinion of my cooking.
His feedback was brutal, but it helped me improve.
Similarblunt, frank, harsh, candid, unsparing
Oppositetactful, diplomatic
Note
4
adjective
Rough and uncaring in the way someone acts or talks.
Like a person who steps on your toes and never says sorry.
His brutal manners embarrassed everyone at the dinner table.
She answered in a brutal tone that hurt his feelings.
Similarharsh, coarse, callous, crude, rough
Oppositegentle, tactful, considerate, kind
5
adjective
So sharp and exact that it feels uncomfortable.
Like a light so bright it shows every little mark on the wall.
Her brutal logic left no room for argument.
The exam asked brutal questions that found every weak spot.
Similarmerciless, unsparing, ruthless, piercing, incisive
6
adjectivefiguratively
In heavy metal, very fast and packed with dense, heavy guitar parts.
Like a drum solo so fast and loud it feels like a storm.
The band's new album sounds absolutely brutal from start to finish.
Fans love how brutal the drumming gets in the final track.
Note

Practice

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Origin

Comes from a Latin word meaning "dull" or "stupid."