Word
brutal
Phoneticsbru·tal, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɹutəɫ/
UK/bɹˈuːtəl/
Definitions
01violent and cruel
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. extremely violent, cruel, or heartless.
adj. characterised by extreme violence, ruthlessness, or a total lack of humanity.
日本語:残酷※
“The dictator was known for his brutal treatment of anyone who disagreed with him.”
“The documentary provided a brutal account of the conflict, refusing to look away from the suffering of the civilian population.”
02harsh or difficult
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. very unpleasant, difficult, or severe.
adj. extremely harsh, unrelenting, or physically demanding.
“The runners struggled to finish the race in the brutal summer heat.”
“The winter was brutal, with record-breaking snowfall and temperatures that remained below freezing for several consecutive weeks.”
03uncomfortably honest
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. direct and honest in a way that might hurt someone's feelings.
adj. direct and lacking any attempt to disguise or soften unpleasant truths.
“I need you to be brutal and tell me if this book is actually good.”
“The critic's review was brutal, dismantling the director's artistic choices with clinical and unforgiving precision.”
Antonyms
04heavy metal music
C1 · Advanced Music Slang
adj. used to describe music that is very fast, loud, and heavy.
adj. describing extreme metal music characterised by high-speed percussion and dense, complex guitar riffs.
“The band's new album features some of the most brutal drumming I have ever heard.”
“Fans of the genre praised the track for its brutal technicality and the sheer wall of sound created by the distorted guitars.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “brutal” in context.
Verb
01. endure a brutal regime
“The citizens had to endure a brutal regime for decades before the revolution finally succeeded.”
verb + noun
02. survive a brutal winter
“The mountain tribe has developed unique ways to survive a brutal winter every year.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. absolutely brutal
“The feedback from the critics was absolutely brutal, leaving the director questioning his career.”
adv + adj
04. brutal honesty
“I appreciate your brutal honesty, even though it was difficult to hear the truth about my performance.”
adj + noun
05. brutal murder
“The police are still searching for leads in the brutal murder that shook the quiet community.”
adj + noun
06. brutal to watch
“The documentary about the famine was brutal to watch, but it raised important awareness.”
adj + infinitive
Noun
07. brutal attack on a civilian
“The court heard details of the brutal attack on a civilian that occurred last November.”
noun + prep + noun
08. brutal reality of war
“The young soldiers were quickly confronted with the brutal reality of war.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“We are not given access to the architects of brutal welfare policy but we do meet the staff who enact it.” “Can talented Taryn survive increasingly brutal challenges to bring the Starmaker machine down from the inside?” Etymology
From Medieval Latin brutalis (“savage, stupid”), from Latin brūtus (“dull, stupid”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/brutal
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0