brutality
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the quality of being very cruel, violent, or heartless.
the abstract quality of being savage, ruthless, or lacking in humanity.
Simple“The documentary showed the brutality of life in the war zone.”
In context“The sheer brutality of the regime's crackdown on dissent shocked international observers and led to immediate sanctions.”
Antonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a specific act of violence or cruelty.
a particular instance or manifestation of savage or cruel behavior; often used in the plural.
Simple“The police were accused of several brutalities during the protest.”
In context“The report detailed the various brutalities committed by the occupying forces against the local civilian population.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
the use of too much physical force, especially by people in power like the police.
the application of excessive or illegal physical force, typically by law enforcement or military personnel.
Simple“The city saw many protests against police brutality last summer.”
In context“The civil rights lawyer argued that the body-camera footage provided undeniable evidence of police brutality during the arrest.”
Usageoften appears in the fixed phrase 'police brutality'
“The United Nations and international rights groups have condemned state forces for the “brutality” shown during the crackdown on protesters.”
“The former police officer, whose crime reignited the debate about US police brutality, was undergoing treatment for cancer.”
From brutal + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.