1
as in cruelty
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others
the police were accused of brutality for using excessive force in making arrests
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in brutishness
the manifestation of the traits or the gratification of the appetites of a lower animal
the disconcerting ease with which the people adopted the brutality of the enemy invaders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of brutality
The November election will shape how Phoenix manages the U.S. Department of Justice's investigation that found routine brutality and discrimination in the city and police department's practices.
—
Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Moore and her costar Margaret Qualley have been lauded for their fearless commitment to the violence and brutality required by their parts, but also for their raw, emotional vulnerability.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Marine units such as the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade are notorious for their brutality and poor discipline.
—David Axe, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
From the opposite coast, the bruises and lunch-bucket brutality of the ’90s New York Knicks.
—Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for brutality 
Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Moore and her costar Margaret Qualley have been lauded for their fearless commitment to the violence and brutality required by their parts, but also for their raw, emotional vulnerability.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Marine units such as the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade are notorious for their brutality and poor discipline.
—David Axe, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
From the opposite coast, the bruises and lunch-bucket brutality of the ’90s New York Knicks.
—Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for brutality
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brutality
Noun
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Family seeks stronger laws to combat animal cruelty Soon after Sonnemann was charged, Shelly Ciardo called numerous state legislators to try to get stronger laws to combat animal cruelty.Cathy Kozlowicz, Journal Sentinel, 27 Nov. 2024
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The sanctuary receives turkeys from factory farm workers who rescue them, anonymous drop-offs, animal cruelty cases, law enforcement and from individual farmers who initially purchase the turkeys and then grow attached.Maya Blackstone, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Many of the women are from the city of Bucha, a suburb of Kyiv, where some of the worst atrocities took place in the early days of the war, including the execution of civilians in the street.Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 28 Nov. 2024
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In 2016-2017, the community was subjected to a litany of atrocities aiming at the annihilation of the community and meeting the legal definition of genocide in Article II of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention).Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Noun
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All of a sudden, that animalism has been incarnated.Hunter Ingram, Variety, 25 Mar. 2024
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But what Cameron represents to Harper is unfettered animalism, and that’s part of what’s missing in her relationship with Ethan.Marlow Stern, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2022
Noun
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The other characters are getting animalities, as well: Peacemaker gets the eagle, Omni-Man the Hail Mary kaiju from Invincible, and Johnny Cage becomes a shark.Nick Romano, EW.com, 23 Sep. 2024
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Meg combined elements of Christie Monteiro, with Bryans Snakeskin Pants (both from Tekken), while dancing in a DDR setting similarly to Ulala from Space Channel 5, fatalities and animalities from MK, with nods to old school games from the Sega Genesis era.Solcyré Burga, TIME, 10 May 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near brutality
Cite this Entry
“Brutality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutality. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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