brutal

adjective

/ˈbruː.təl/

/-t̬əl/

Definition

C1 cruel, violent, and completely without feelings: a brutal dictator He had presided over a brutal regime in which thousands of people had 'disappeared'. He was imprisoned in 1945 for the brutal murder of a twelve-year-old girl.Violent or aggressiveUnkind, cruel and unfeelingTreating people or animals badly › not considering someone's feelings: She spoke with brutal honesty - I was too old for the job.Blunt and direct in speech and behaviourNot saying muchNot being friendlyNot being friendlyNot saying muchBlunt and direct in speech and behaviour brutally

/-i/ adverb › The old man had been brutally attacked/murdered. To be brutally honest/frank, you look fat in that dress.Violent or aggressiveUnkind, cruel and unfeelingTreating people or animals badlyBlunt and direct in speech and behaviourNot saying muchNot being friendlyNot being friendlyNot saying muchBlunt and direct in speech and behaviour

(Definition of brutal adjective from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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