brutal
extremely cruel or violent
Very cruel and violent, not caring about other people’s pain.
[someone]/[something] is brutal to [someone]; brutal [noun]
- The protesters were met with a brutal police crackdown.
- It was a brutal murder that shocked the entire country.
- Under the brutal regime, political opponents simply disappeared.
- Witnesses described a brutal beating that left the victim in intensive care.
- The film shows the brutal reality of life in a war zone.
- The dictator was known for his brutal rule.
- The prisoner suffered a brutal attack in the night.
- Many people died in the brutal war.
- The brutal soldiers hurt anyone who spoke against them.
- The story is about a brutal crime in a quiet town.
extremely hard or demanding
Very hard and tiring, or very severe, so that it is difficult to continue.
[a time]/[activity]/[conditions] are brutal; brutal [schedule/workout/winter]
- She works a brutal schedule during tax season.
- The marathon was brutal, with steep hills and strong winds.
- After a brutal workout, his legs were shaking.
- They survived a brutal winter with record-low temperatures.
- The hike was brutal, but the view from the top was worth it.
- The exam was brutal and very long.
- He has a brutal day at work every Monday.
- The training is brutal, but the team is stronger now.
- It was a brutal winter, with snow for many weeks.
- The workout was brutal, and my whole body hurts.
very direct and hurtfully honest
Saying the truth in a very direct way that can hurt someone’s feelings.
brutal [honesty/truth/review/assessment]
- I appreciate your brutal honesty, even though it stung.
- The report gave a brutal assessment of the company’s failures.
- Let me be brutal: your idea just isn’t working.
- Critics gave the movie a brutal review after its opening weekend.
- Sometimes you need to face the brutal truth about your own mistakes.
- Her words were brutal but true.
- He is known for his brutal honesty.
- The manager gave a brutal review of my work.
- The coach was brutal about our performance.
- They finally accepted the brutal truth about their business.
very bad or unpleasant
Very bad and very hard to live with, like a strong headache or very slow traffic.
[experience] is brutal; brutal [headache/traffic/hangover/day]
- I woke up with a brutal headache after the party.
- The traffic this morning was absolutely brutal.
- Losing by that many points was brutal for the team.
- The jet lag on the way back was brutal.
- That meeting was brutal; it felt like it would never end.
- I have a brutal headache and need to lie down.
- The bus was late, and the wait was brutal.
- The traffic after the game was brutal.
- Yesterday was a brutal day at work.
- The time difference was brutal for me.
extremely intense and impressive
Slang: very strong and very good, often about a game, performance, or sound.
[performance/game/song] is brutal; brutal [riff/tackle/game]
- That last level was absolutely brutal—in a good way.
- The band’s new album is brutal from start to finish.
- Did you see that hit? That was a brutal tackle.
- Gamers are loving the brutal combat system in the sequel.
- Their defense was brutal and shut down every attack.
- The guitar solo was brutal and loud.
- Fans say the new game is brutal but fun.
- He made a brutal tackle in the match.
- The DJ played a brutal set last night.
- The movie’s fight scenes are brutal in a cool way.
- Base: brutal
brutal attack
1extremely violent attack
An attack that is very violent and very cruel.
- Police are investigating a brutal attack in the city center.
- The victim is recovering after a brutal attack last night.
- Witnesses described the incident as a sudden and brutal attack.
brutal conditions
1extremely harsh conditions
Living or working situations that are very hard and painful to live in.
- Workers protested against the brutal conditions in the factory.
- They climbed in brutal conditions with freezing winds.
- Prisoners were kept in brutal conditions with little food or heat.
brutal murder
1extremely violent killing
A killing that is very violent and very cruel.
- The documentary examines a brutal murder that shocked the town.
- Police have arrested a suspect in the brutal murder of a local teacher.
- The court heard details of the brutal murder during the trial.
brutal regime
1extremely cruel government
A government that hurts and controls people in very cruel and violent ways.
- Thousands fled the country to escape the brutal regime.
- The book tells the story of life under a brutal regime.
- Sanctions were imposed on the brutal regime for its human rights abuses.
brutal winter
1extremely severe winter
A winter with very cold or very bad weather that is hard to live through.
- After a brutal winter, everyone was ready for spring.
- The region is preparing for another brutal winter.
- We survived a brutal winter with constant snowstorms.
that was brutal
1comment that something was very hard
Used after something finishes to say it was very hard, very tiring, or very unpleasant.
- Wow, that exam was brutal.
- That was brutal—I’m exhausted.
- The workout looked short, but that was brutal.
the brutal truth
1a painful but true fact
A fact that is true but very hard or painful to accept.
- The brutal truth is that we can’t afford it.
- He finally faced the brutal truth about his health.
- Here’s the brutal truth: we lost because we weren’t prepared.
brutal honesty
1very direct, harsh honesty
a way of speaking that is very honest and direct, and may sound hard or hurtful.
- Her brutal honesty can make people uncomfortable.
- He answered the question with brutal honesty, not trying to make it sound nicer.
brutal honesty
2very direct, painful honesty
Saying what is true in a very direct way, even when it hurts someone’s feelings.
- I appreciate your brutal honesty about my performance.
- With brutal honesty, she told him the relationship was over.
- The review is full of brutal honesty about the product’s problems.