Brutal

/ˈbruːtəl/

Meaning & Definition

adjective

Savage, cruel, or violent.

The brutal attack left the victim with serious injuries.

Harsh or unyielding in manner or treatment.

The criticism from his boss was brutal and left him feeling demoralized.

Extremely difficult or severe.

The brutal winter weather made travel nearly impossible.

Unrestrained or unbridled; lacking in gentleness.

The brutal honesty of her words caught him off guard.

Middle English: from Latin brutalis, from brutus 'heavy, stupid, or cruel'.

brutal workout

A training session that is extremely strenuous.

brutal honesty

Being extremely frank and direct.

brutal battle

A fight that is exceedingly fierce or cruel.

brutality

The quality of being brutal; cruelty.

brute

A savagely violent person or animal.

brutish

Resembling or characteristic of a brute; savage.

Awesome or impressive.

That concert was brutal!

Intense or extreme, often used in sports contexts.

He took a brutal hit during the game.