brutality
noun
bru·tal·i·ty
brü-ˈta-lə-tē 
plural brutalities
1
: the quality or state of being brutal
2
: a brutal act or course of action
Synonyms
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
War needs to be carried out without brutality and drive at a just political end.
—
Phil Klay, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2024
The question about how long the population will resist the economic brutality of the policies being enacted by Economy Minister Luis ‘Toto’ Caputo must also be considered.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
By the end of this test, the Tar Heels had prevailed with brutality and beauty, matching push for push but also spreading all their feathers like a peacock to show just how much there actually is to this UNC team.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2024
Police brutality activists heralded the charges, which came just a week after city officials signed two agreements with the federal government pledging to clean up the troubled department.
—Andrea May Sahouri, Detroit Free Press, 16 Mar. 2024
Their brutality triggered horrific reprisals by Republican forces and their allies, who executed thousands, often targeting Catholic clergy.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
Even for some within the gangs, the brutality of the current situation has become unbearable.
—Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024
For years, the Israeli center has been moving right — a trend accelerated by the brutality of the Hamas attack on Oct. 7.
—William Booth, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024
Hondo’s staging is clear and classical, with mighty formations of soldiers, skirmishes on horseback, terrifying acts of brutality, turbulent crowd scenes, and intimate dramas of debate, whispers of counsel, and hubristic rants.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2024
Phil Klay, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2024
The question about how long the population will resist the economic brutality of the policies being enacted by Economy Minister Luis ‘Toto’ Caputo must also be considered.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
By the end of this test, the Tar Heels had prevailed with brutality and beauty, matching push for push but also spreading all their feathers like a peacock to show just how much there actually is to this UNC team.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2024
Police brutality activists heralded the charges, which came just a week after city officials signed two agreements with the federal government pledging to clean up the troubled department.
—Andrea May Sahouri, Detroit Free Press, 16 Mar. 2024
Their brutality triggered horrific reprisals by Republican forces and their allies, who executed thousands, often targeting Catholic clergy.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
Even for some within the gangs, the brutality of the current situation has become unbearable.
—Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024
For years, the Israeli center has been moving right — a trend accelerated by the brutality of the Hamas attack on Oct. 7.
—William Booth, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024
Hondo’s staging is clear and classical, with mighty formations of soldiers, skirmishes on horseback, terrifying acts of brutality, turbulent crowd scenes, and intimate dramas of debate, whispers of counsel, and hubristic rants.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brutality.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near brutality
Cite this Entry
“Brutality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brutality. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
brutality
noun
bru·tal·i·ty
brü-ˈtal-ət-ē
plural brutalities
1
: the quality or state of being brutal
2
: a brutal act or course of action
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