# brutal

/ˈbɹutəɫ/ (US) · /bɹˈuːtəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brutal
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. violent and cruel

adjective · CEFR B2

extremely violent, cruel, or heartless.

For teachers: characterised by extreme violence, ruthlessness, or a total lack of humanity.

- 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.

### 2. harsh or difficult

adjective · CEFR B2

very unpleasant, difficult, or severe.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. uncomfortably honest

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

direct and honest in a way that might hurt someone's feelings.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. heavy metal music

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang

used to describe music that is very fast, loud, and heavy.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The winter weather was brutal this year.
- The coach put the team through a brutal training session to prepare them for the final match.
- The critic's review was famously brutal, dissecting every flaw in the performance with a level of honesty that left the young actor devastated.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.