brutal

/ˈbɹuːtəl/adjective

Extremely violent or cruel, with no mercy.

Example sentences

“The documentary described the brutal conditions in the old prison.”
“The brutal dictator jailed anyone who criticized his government.”

Informal English has softened it into an intensifier: a brutal schedule, brutally honest. The violence sense is still primary in news writing.

Synonyms for brutal

savage
vicious
cruel
ferocious
barbaric

Antonyms

Related words

harshUnkind, severe, or cruel in a way that is hard to accept.brusqueShort and blunt in manner, to the point of seeming rude.cacophonyAn unpleasant, jarring mix of many noises at once.calamityA disaster that causes serious damage or loss.brazenBold and shameless; doing something wrong openly, without any embarrassment.callousCold and uncaring about other people's pain or feelings.