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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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
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2
as in villain
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
leave him alone, you brute!
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of brute
Molly Fischer, The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2024
The moody brute is more than just a gladiator to Macrinus, however.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Dec. 2024
Raven Smith, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2024
The Penguin's Falcone is every bit the misogynistic brute, but his actions are relegated to the off-screen imagination by being implied, rather than shown.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for brute 
Adjective
Her acuity gives equal weight and immediacy to both the intangible reality of human relationships (the social hierarchies among children in a cancer ward, say) and the brute force of physical experience.
—Molly Fischer, The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2024
The moody brute is more than just a gladiator to Macrinus, however.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Dec. 2024
Noun
When searching for reprieve, there’s sanctuary in a movie musical that looks like a Broadway smash, a Colosseum full of vintage brutes, a Harry Styles simile.
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2024
The Penguin's Falcone is every bit the misogynistic brute, but his actions are relegated to the off-screen imagination by being implied, rather than shown.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for brute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brute
Adjective
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Amorim acted on 33 minutes in what became a brutal, surreal spectacle.Laurie Whitwell, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
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New York State Attorney General Letitia James released body camera footage on Friday showing the brutal attack on Robert Brooks at the Marcy Correctional Facility in Marcy, NY.Melissa Noel, Essence, 31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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These include barn and feral cats, indoor cats, and big cats in zoos and in the wild.CBS News, CBS News, 1 Jan. 2025
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There is much less farmland and feral fields and much more forested land these days.Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 1 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The eight-legged, microscopic animals are known for being nearly indestructible.Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Dec. 2024
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Editor’s picks The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time How many animals have been infected?Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Peter Dinklage rolls both hero and villain into his performance as Tyrion Lannister, a dwarf who uses intelligence to overcome prejudice.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025
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Still, the character is now available to play the hero or the villain in a slasher film — a la Winnie the Pooh — if some enterprising filmmaker wants to take advantage of the fair use.Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 1 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 27 Dec. 2022
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The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2022
Adjective
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Collier is a brutish guard who has had some Earl Campbell-esque bully-ball drives to the cup and can move his feet on defense.John Hollinger, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
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The Baron announced his intentions to take over the new world, and when one woman tried to ask him a question, Laszlo’s brutish monster smashed her skull to bloody bits.Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 2 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The guilt slowly builds throughout the camp, and rumors about the appearance of a folkloric creature known as the Dragur begin to emerge.Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Jan. 2025
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But Jokić is a perfectionist, a creature of routine.Tony Jones, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The Giannis Antetokounmpo show was in full effect, as the Greek Freak put up a monster performance with 32 points and 14 rebounds.Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
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Players play through 10 quests battling monsters, discovering treasure and avoiding traps in the cassic style of game play.Rob Wieland, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near brute
Cite this Entry
“Brute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brute. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.
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