brutally

adverb

Definition of brutallynext
as in harshly
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering the prisoners were treated brutally at the hands of the guards

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of brutally Sandra Bullock's brutally honest daughter is all for her mother dating again. — Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Unlike in Libya, where Moammar Gadhafi and his son Mutassim were captured and killed by rebels within months, the Assad regime retained its grip on power for years, brutally crushing protesters in the process. — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 Stand-up comedian Leanne Morgan stars as the titular character, while Johnston plays her brutally honest sister, Carol. — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 IndieWire exclusively releases the video, which sees the two directors discussing everything from post-production workflows to the horrifying experience of being a young person in a world that often feels brutally unstable. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026 Ten straight hours of baking are edited into 90-second reels of prep work on Roll & Dough’s social pages, which Pierre, who is soft-spoken yet brutally honest, overlays with confessional voiceovers. — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026 The title The Dog Stars points to the constellations Hig looks to while living in a world that has become brutally small. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 Make The Restaurants Better The burger business has become brutally competitive and speed, accuracy, cleanliness, food quality and consistency are key to lure customers back to its stores. — Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 That concision is evident in an almost brutally economical edit and in sharp, precise writing which provides narrative elements and deftly sketches character before moving busily on. — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brutally
  1. harshly
  2. severely
  3. oppressively
  4. hard
Adverb
  • Yust also alleges prosecutorial misconduct, arguing that a prosecutor improperly urged jurors to sentence him more harshly because of the emotional impact of the trial on them.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
  • She was especially hurt that some of the people who criticized Cox most harshly, dismissing him as craven and disingenuous, were those who had the closest relationships with him.
    — McKay Coppins, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of harshly
Adverb
  • Ford Motor is increasing production of its crucial F-Series trucks after fires at an aluminum supplier severely impacted output over the past year.
    — Michael Wayland, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The water supply system for the park was also severely damaged, along with part of a new $208 million water pipeline project that was underway near the ranch.
    — Shayna Jacobs, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of severely
Adverb
  • The summer had seen Europe endure an oppressively dry, hot summer, which had seen wildfires spring up across the continent.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • After a bit of a reprieve from an oppressively hot summer, another heat wave is set to scorch Southern California this week.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of oppressively
Adverb
  • Some days, trying harder just gives the problem more opportunities to annoy you.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • General Daily Insight for September 01, 2026 Some days, trying harder just gives the problem more opportunities to annoy you.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of hard

Browse Nearby Words

brutalizing
brutally
brute
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Brutally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutally. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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