brutal
word
/ˈbɹutəɫ/
BROO-tuhl
/bɹˈuːtəl/
BROO-tuhl
Definition
Very cruel or violent. It can also describe something extremely harsh, severe, or, in informal speech, very bad or intense.
Usage & Nuances
Common in news for violence: 'a brutal attack'. Also used for difficult situations: 'a brutal winter', 'brutal honesty'. Informally, it often means very unpleasant or intense: 'That exam was brutal.' The tone is strong, so avoid it for minor problems.
Spanish: brutal - cruel - durísimoPortuguese (BR): brutal - cruel - pesadíssimoPortuguese (PT): brutal - cruel - duríssimoChinese (Simplified): 残忍的 - 严酷的 - 糟透的Chinese (Traditional): 殘忍的 - 嚴酷的 - 糟透的Hindi: क्रूर - बहुत कठोर - बहुत बुराArabic: وحشي - قاسٍ جدًا - سيّئ جدًاBengali: নৃশংস - অমানবিক - অত্যন্ত কঠোরRussian: жестокий - бессердечный - суровыйJapanese: 残忍な - 過酷なVietnamese: tàn bạo - dữ dội - khắc nghiệtKorean: 잔인한 - 혹독한Turkish: vahşi - acımasız - sertUrdu: سفاک - ظالم - سختIndonesian: brutal - kejam - sangat berat
Example Sentences
The movie shows a brutal war.
basic
Last summer was brutal here.
basic
She gave me the brutal truth.
basic
That workout was brutal—my legs still hurt.
natural
I'm not ready for that kind of brutal honesty.
natural
The first week at the new job was brutal, but it's getting easier now.
natural