brutality

noun

bru·​tal·​i·​ty brü-ˈta-lə-tē How to pronounce brutality (audio)
plural brutalities
Synonyms of brutalitynext
1
: the quality or state of being brutal
2
: a brutal act or course of action

Synonyms of brutality

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Examples of brutality in a Sentence

the brutalities of a prison the police were accused of brutality for using excessive force in making arrests
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But the brutality becomes off-putting after a while and a tragic plot element in the final act seems unearned. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 Nearly four years after Kaepernick kneeled in response to police brutality, worldwide protests emerged in the wake of Floyd’s killing. — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026 In the years that followed, athletes increasingly used their platforms to speak out against racial injustice and police brutality, especially after the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 triggered global protests. — Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 The army Mladic created to fight in Bosnia was a model of ruthlessness, daring and brutality in the Serb warrior tradition, once prized in the life-or-death partisan struggle against the Nazi occupation of Yugoslavia in World War Two. — Ivana Sekularac, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brutality

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin brūtālitāt-, brūtālitās, from brūtālis "brutish, bestial" + Latin -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at brutal

First Known Use

1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of brutality was in 1550

Rhymes for brutality

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Browse Nearby Words

brutalitarian
brutality
brutalization
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Cite this Entry

“Brutality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brutality. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

brutality

noun
bru·​tal·​i·​ty brü-ˈtal-ət-ē How to pronounce brutality (audio)
plural brutalities
1
: the quality or state of being brutal
2
: a brutal act or course of action
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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