more brutal

ADJECTIVE

cruel, remorseless

Synonyms

STRONGEST

barbarous callous ferocious harsh inhuman merciless rough rude ruthless savage severe vicious

WEAK

bloodthirsty gruff hard heartless impolite insensitive pitiless remorseless uncivil uncivilized unfeeling unmannerly unmerciful

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm civilized compassionate courteous easy friendly gentle giving kind mild nice polished polite refined smooth sophisticated sympathetic tame temperate tender

WEAK

generous humane

ADJECTIVE

crude, rough

Synonyms

STRONGEST

inhuman inhumane rude savage

WEAK

animal bearish beastly bestial brute brutish carnal coarse feral ferine swinish unfeeling

Antonyms

STRONGEST

kind nice

WEAK

generous gentle humane

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.

Selloffs like the one following Covid shutdowns, Liberation Day and hostilities in Iran are even more brutal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Laura Davison, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, said the plans for "more brutal job cuts are wrong, damaging and will cause uncertainty and distress for workers at the BBC".

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

An opinion piece in Germany's Bild tabloid was more brutal.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

Bruno Schneller, managing partner at Erlen Capital Management in Zurich, made a similar, if even more brutal, point.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 23, 2025

In the Age of Sugar, when slavery was more brutal than ever before, the idea that all humans are equal began to spread—toppling kings, overturning governments, transforming the entire world.

From "Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science" by Marc Aronson