ENGLISH
REFERENCE

brutally

adv.
US //ˈbɹutəɫi// UK //bɹˈuːtəli// bru·tal·ly
  1. 1 violently (adv.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    in a very violent, cruel, or physical way.

    in a manner characterized by extreme physical violence, cruelty, or lack of humanity.

    Example

    The peaceful protest was brutally broken up by the local police.

    Example

    The dictator's regime was known for brutally suppressing any form of political dissent through arbitrary arrests and physical intimidation.

    Usage

    Often used to describe physical attacks or the suppression of groups.
  2. 2 very honestly (adv.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    in a way that is direct and honest, even if it is unpleasant or hurts someone's feelings.

    with uncompromising directness; used to describe honesty that does not attempt to spare the listener's feelings.

    Example

    I need you to be brutally honest with me about my singing.

    Example

    The critic was brutally frank in her assessment of the play, noting that the lead actor seemed entirely disconnected from the script.

    Usage

    Commonly collocates with 'honest', 'frank', or 'truthful'.
    • tactfully
    • diplomatically
  3. 3 extremely (adv.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    used to emphasize that something is very difficult, cold, or intense.

    used as an intensifier to denote an extreme or punishing degree of a quality.

    Example

    It was a brutally cold morning, and the car wouldn't start.

    Example

    The marathon was held on a brutally hot day, forcing several elite runners to withdraw before reaching the halfway mark.

    Teacher's tip

    In this sense, 'brutally' suggests the intensity is so high it feels like a physical attack.
Origin

From brutal + -ly.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026