# brutality

/bɹuˈtæɫəti/ (US) · /bɹuːtˈælɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brutality
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. cruel behavior

noun · CEFR B2

the quality of being very cruel, violent, or heartless.

For teachers: the abstract quality of being savage, ruthless, or lacking in humanity.

- The documentary showed the brutality of life in the war zone.
- The sheer brutality of the regime's crackdown on dissent shocked international observers and led to immediate sanctions.

### 2. a violent act

noun · CEFR B2

a specific act of violence or cruelty.

For teachers: a particular instance or manifestation of savage or cruel behavior; often used in the plural.

- The police were accused of several brutalities during the protest.
- The report detailed the various brutalities committed by the occupying forces against the local civilian population.

### 3. excessive force

noun · CEFR B2

the use of too much physical force, especially by people in power like the police.

For teachers: the application of excessive or illegal physical force, typically by law enforcement or military personnel.

- The city saw many protests against police brutality last summer.
- The civil rights lawyer argued that the body-camera footage provided undeniable evidence of police brutality during the arrest.

Usage: often appears in the fixed phrase 'police brutality'

## Examples

- The film shows the brutality of war.
- The international community condemned the brutality of the regime after reports of human rights abuses surfaced.
- The novel explores the inherent brutality of the frontier, where the absence of formal law often led to unchecked violence and systemic cruelty.

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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.