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Definitions

brutish

[broo-tish] / ˈbru tɪʃ /
ADJECTIVE
animal
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bodily natural
STRONG
brute mammalian wild
WEAK
beastly bestial corporeal earthly earthy feral fleshy muscular physical sensual untamed zoological
Antonyms
STRONG
gentle mild
ADJECTIVE
barbarous
Synonyms
STRONGEST
atrocious barbaric brutal cruel heartless inhuman inhumane rude ruthless sadistic uncivilized unsophisticated vicious vulgar
WEAK
barbarian coarse ferocious ignorant monstrous primitive rough truculent uncivil uncouth uncultured wicked wolfish
Antonyms
STRONGEST
compassionate considerate cultured feeling gentle humane inoffensive kind merciful nice polished polite refined sophisticated sympathetic
WEAK
civilized educated
ADJECTIVE
bestial
Synonyms
WEAK
barbarous beastly boorish cruel depraved feral inhuman savage
Antonyms
WEAK
generous gentle humane kind nice
ADJECTIVE
brutal
Synonyms
STRONGEST
inhuman inhumane rude savage
WEAK
animal bearish beastly bestial brute carnal coarse feral ferine swinish unfeeling
Antonyms
STRONGEST
kind nice
WEAK
generous gentle humane
ADJECTIVE
coarse
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bawdy boorish crass crude dirty gruff nasty obscene off-color raw ribald rude scatological vulgar
WEAK
base blue cheap common down and dirty earthy filthy foul foul-mouthed gross immodest impolite improper impure incult indelicate inelegant loutish low lowbred mean offensive raffish raunchy rough roughneck smutty tacky uncivil uncouth uncultivated uncultured unrefined vulgarian
Antonyms
STRONGEST
chaste clean decent happy kind moral nice pleasant polished polite pure refined sophisticated upright
WEAK
delicate gentle smooth soft
ADJECTIVE
cruel
Synonyms
STRONGEST
atrocious barbarous bitter brutal callous cold-blooded evil harsh hateful heartless inhuman inhumane merciless painful relentless ruthless sadistic spiteful tyrannical unkind vicious wicked
WEAK
bestial bloodthirsty degenerate demoniac depraved excruciating ferocious fierce flinty hard hard-hearted hellish implacable inexorable malevolent monstrous pernicious poignant rancorous revengeful sinful unfeeling unnatural unrelenting vengeful virulent
Antonyms
STRONGEST
compassionate considerate decent easy feeling friendly gentle giving good helpful humane kind merciful mild moral nice pleasant pleasing polite sympathetic
WEAK
charitable thoughtful uncruel
ADJECTIVE
devilish
Synonyms
STRONGEST
demonic diabolical
WEAK
Mephistophelian accursed atrocious bad cloven-footed cursed damnable demoniac detestable diabolic evil execrable fiendish hellborn hellish infernal inhuman iniquitous nefarious satanic serpentine unhallowed villainous
Antonyms
WEAK
angelic godlike good moral
ADJECTIVE
ferocious
Synonyms
STRONGEST
brutal cruel fierce frightful merciless murderous ravenous relentless ruthless savage vehement vicious voracious
WEAK
barbarous bloodthirsty fell feral grim implacable inhuman inhumane lupine pitiless predatory rapacious ravening sanguinary tigerish truculent unmerciful unrestrained untamed wild wolfish
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm compassionate considerate gentle giving kind merciful nice pleasant satisfied sympathetic tame
WEAK
innocent mild nonviolent tender
ADJECTIVE
fiendish
Synonyms
STRONGEST
nefarious
WEAK
atrocious beastly cruel demonic demonical devilish diabolic evil hellish inhuman malicious sadistic satanic savage vicious wicked
ADJECTIVE
fierce
Synonyms
STRONGEST
angry bold brutal cutthroat dangerous ferocious fiery furious intense murderous passionate powerful raging relentless savage stormy strong terrible vehement vicious
WEAK
animal ape awful barbarous bloodthirsty blustery boisterous cruel enraged fell feral flipped frightening horrible howling impetuous infuriated malevolent malign primitive raving tempestuous threatening tigerish truculent tumultuous uncontrollable untamed venomous wild
Antonyms
STRONGEST
apathetic calm cold cool dull gentle good happy indifferent kind mild moderate nice pleasant quiet tame uncaring unpassionate weak
WEAK
meek nonviolent peaceful tender unthreatening
ADJECTIVE
hardhearted
Synonyms
STRONG
heartless
WEAK
callous cold-blooded coldhearted hard hard-boiled indifferent inhuman insensitive intolerant merciless obdurate pitiless stony uncaring uncompassionate unemotional unfeeling unkind unsympathetic
Antonyms
WEAK
compassionate kind nice softhearted warm
ADJECTIVE
indelicate
Synonyms
STRONG
indecorous
WEAK
base brash callow coarse crude earthy embarrassing immodest improper indecent lewd low lowbred off-color offensive outrageous risqué rude suggestive tasteless unbecoming unblushing uncouth unseemly untactful untoward
Antonyms
WEAK
decent delicate inoffensive nice pure
ADJECTIVE
mindless
Synonyms
STRONGEST
foolish gratuitous senseless silly thoughtless
STRONG
forgetful unmindful
WEAK
asinine careless daydreaming heedless idiotic imbecilic inattentive mooning moony moronic neglectful negligent nitwitted obtuse out out of it rash simple spaced-out unaware unintelligent unthinking witless
Antonyms
STRONGEST
reasonable sensible serious thoughtful wise
STRONG
attentive mindful
WEAK
intelligent thinking
ADJECTIVE
ogreish
Synonyms
WEAK
atrocious beastly cruel demonic demonical devilish diabolic diabolical evil ghoulish hellish infernal inhuman malicious nefarious sadistic satanic satanical savage vicious wicked
ADJECTIVE
Philistine
Synonyms
STRONG
barbarian base common crude foul gross low mean offensive raw ribald rough roughneck vulgarian
WEAK
barbaric boorish cheap churlish crass gruff ill-bred immodest impolite improper impure incult indelicate inelegant loutish lowbred nasty raffish rude tacky tasteless uncivil uncivilized uncouth uncultivated uncultured unpolished unrefined vulgar
Antonyms
STRONG
cultured decent good happy healthy high honest kind moral nice noble pleasing polished polite refined sophisticated
ADJECTIVE
primitive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
crude rough rudimentary simple uncivilized
STRONG
natural raw rude uncultivated unsophisticated wild
WEAK
atavistic barbarous childlike ignorant naive nonliterate preliterate uncultured underdeveloped unlearned unrefined untaught untrained untutored vestigial
Antonyms
STRONGEST
developed experienced mature sophisticated
STRONG
calm civilized kind mild moderate nice polite refined tame
WEAK
cultured current modern new present
ADJECTIVE
rude
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abusive blunt boorish coarse crude ignorant impolite insulting intrusive obscene surly vulgar
STRONG
uncivil
WEAK
abrupt bad-mannered barbarian barbaric barbarous brusque cheeky churlish crabbed curt discourteous graceless gross gruff illiterate impertinent impudent inconsiderate insolent loutish low offhand peremptory raw savage scurrilous short uncivilized uncouth uncultured uneducated ungracious unmannerly unpolished unrefined
Antonyms
STRONGEST
decent gentle nice polite refined sophisticated
WEAK
exact gradual kind mannerly polished respectful smooth
ADJECTIVE
satanical
Synonyms
WEAK
atrocious beastly cruel demonic demonical devilish diabolic diabolical evil ghoulish hellish infernal inhuman malicious nefarious ogreish sadistic satanic savage vicious wicked
ADJECTIVE
savage
Synonyms
STRONGEST
atrocious barbarous bloody brutal cold-blooded destructive ferocious fierce harsh inhuman inhumane merciless murderous relentless ruthless sadistic unrelenting violent
STRONG
crazed demoniac infernal raging ravening
WEAK
beastly bestial bloodthirsty devilish diabolical feral ferine frantic furious grim heartless hellish malevolent malicious pitiless rabid rapacious remorseless truculent wolfish
Antonyms
STRONGEST
compassionate gentle humane kind merciful nice polite sympathetic tender
WEAK
benign
ADJECTIVE
uncivilized
Synonyms
STRONGEST
barbaric barbarous boorish churlish disrespectful impolite rude unconscionable vulgar
WEAK
barbarian coarse crass crude discourteous gross ill-bred impertinent loutish mannerless outrageous philistine primitive rugged savage uncontrolled uncouth uncultivated uneducated ungodly unholy unmannered unpolished unrefined unsophisticated wicked
Antonyms
STRONGEST
courteous cultured decent kind mannerly nice polite refined respectful sophisticated
WEAK
civilized domesticated polished
ADJECTIVE
unrefined
Synonyms
STRONG
crude
WEAK
barbaric boorish crass earthy gross inelegant primitive raw rough rude troglodytic uncivilized uncouth uncultivated uncultured unpolished unsophisticated vulgar
Antonyms
WEAK
cultured refined
ADJECTIVE
unthinking
Synonyms
WEAK
blundering feckless foolish heedless impulsive inadvertent inconsiderate indelicate insensitive instinctive mechanical napping negligent oblivious outrageous rash rude selfish senseless tactless thoughtless uncaring unconscious undiplomatic unheeding unintended unmeant unmindful unpremeditated unreasoning untactful unwise vacant witless
Antonyms
WEAK
careful cautious thoughtful
ADVERB
beastly
Synonyms
WEAK
abominable animal barbarous base bestial boorish brutal brute carnal coarse cruel degraded depraved disgusting feral ferine foul gluttonous gross inhuman irrational loathsome low monstrous obscene piggish prurient repulsive sadistic swinish unclean vile
Antonyms
WEAK
good inoffensive kind nice superior

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Driven by rumors of Severus’ impending death, some bored soldiers proclaimed one of his brutish sons as their emperor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

It isn’t creedal or expansive, will likely be more brutish and narrow.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

Sean Duffy is fighting an American air travel future that is nasty, brutish, and severely delayed.

From Slate • May 16, 2025

He comes from a mangled life and he’s very cunning and very brutish.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2025

If the members of a particular “society” never behave cooperatively, their lives are likely to be, in Thomas Hobbes’s words, “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.”

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

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