Word
bruiser
Phoneticsbruis·er
UK/bɹˈuːzɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a big, strong person who likes to fight or play rough. You often use it for tough players in sports like football or hockey.
n. a powerfully built person known for physical aggression or rough play, especially in contact sports. Often implies intimidation through size and strength rather than technical skill.
Examples
“He looks like a real bruiser in that jacket.”
“The other team sends out their bruiser to guard the basket and push smaller players around.”
“Despite his reputation as a bruiser, the veteran forward shows surprising touch around the net when the game slows down.”
Examples
simple
“He looks like a real bruiser in that jacket.”
contextual
“The other team sends out their bruiser to guard the basket and push smaller players around.”
complex
“Despite his reputation as a bruiser, the veteran forward shows surprising touch around the net when the game slows down.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “bruiser” in context.
Verb
01. bruiser charges
“The bruiser charged through the defence and scored easily.”
noun + verb
02. bruiser dominates
“Their bruiser dominates every lineout and scares opponents.”
noun + verb
03. bruiser intimidates
“The bruiser intimidates young players before kick-off.”
noun + verb
04. face bruiser
“Our young striker must face a bruiser twice his size on Saturday.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. big bruiser
“The other team played a big bruiser up front who pushed our defenders around.”
adj + noun
06. burly bruiser
“A burly bruiser guarded the door and checked everyone's ID.”
adj + noun
07. hulking bruiser
“Their hulking bruiser in midfield won every physical battle.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. pack of bruisers
“We faced a pack of bruisers who bullied us off the ball.”
noun + prep + noun
09. pair of bruisers
“They play with a pair of bruisers in central defence.”
noun + prep + noun
10. a bruiser of a defender
“Their centre-back is a bruiser of a defender who wins every header.”
11. built like a bruiser
“At 110 kilos, the new prop is built like a bruiser.”
12. no match for the bruiser
“The young winger was no match for the bruiser in midfield.”
Real-World Examples
“For one local sports charity organization, the simmering trade war between Canada and the United States is akin to getting taken roughly into end boards by a bruiser on skates.” “They are the men who think defence is about attack, the big-hitting bruisers who relish lining up the opposition runners and smashing them back where they've just come from.” “John Prescott was an old-style political bruiser who played a vital role in the New Labour project.” “Thickset and pugnacious, starlings are the bruisers of the avian world.” Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/bruiser