brutal

adjective bru·tal \ˈbrü-t^əl\

: extremely cruel or harsh

: very direct and accurate in a way that is harsh or unpleasant

: very bad or unpleasant

Full Definition of BRUTAL

archaic : typical of beasts : animal

: befitting a brute: as

a : grossly ruthless or unfeeling <a brutal slander>

b : cruel, cold-blooded <a brutal attack>

c : harsh, severe <brutal weather>

d : unpleasantly accurate and incisive <the brutal truth>

e : very bad or unpleasant <a brutal mistake>

— bru·tal·ly \-t^əl-ē\ adverb

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Origin of BRUTAL

Middle English, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French, from Medieval Latin brutalis, from Latin brutus — more at brute

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to BRUTAL

Synonyms: bitter, harsh, burdensome, cruel, excruciating, grievous, grim, hard, hardhanded, heavy, inhuman, murderous, onerous, oppressive, rough, rugged, searing, severe, stiff, tough, trying

Antonyms: easy, light, soft

Synonym Discussion of BRUTAL

brutal, brutish, bestial, feral mean characteristic of an animal in nature, action, or instinct. brutal applies to people, their acts, or their words and suggests a lack of intelligence, feeling, or humanity <a senseless and brutal war>. brutish stresses likeness to an animal in low intelligence, in base appetites, and in behavior based on instinct <brutish stupidity>. bestial suggests a state of degradation unworthy of humans and fit only for beasts <bestial depravity>. feral suggests the savagery or ferocity of wild animals <the struggle to survive unleashed their feral impulses>.