Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective brutish differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of brutish are bestial, brutal, and feral. While all these words mean "characteristic of an animal in nature, action, or instinct," brutish stresses likeness to an animal in low intelligence, in base appetites, and in behavior based on instinct.

brutish stupidity

In what contexts can bestial take the place of brutish?

In some situations, the words bestial and brutish are roughly equivalent. However, bestial suggests a state of degradation unworthy of humans and fit only for beasts.

bestial depravity

When is brutal a more appropriate choice than brutish?

The meanings of brutal and brutish largely overlap; however, brutal applies to people, their acts, or their words and suggests a lack of intelligence, feeling, or humanity.

a senseless and brutal war

When could feral be used to replace brutish?

The words feral and brutish can be used in similar contexts, but feral suggests the savagery or ferocity of wild animals.

the struggle to survive unleashed their feral impulses

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of brutish The first 54 holes at Palmer’s brutish layout proved those off their game will be exposed. Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2025 But there’s nothing truly masculine about these brutish low-lifes who oppose everything that makes for responsible manhood. The Editors, National Review, 3 Mar. 2025 Singing the role of Galatea is soprano Nola Richardson, with tenor James Reese at her side as Acis and bass-baritone Douglas Ray Williams as the brutish Polyphemus. Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2025 By the end of the film, Olga is just one more farmer stoically toiling the land in the way that her brutish neighbors have for centuries. Bartolomeo Sala, The Dial, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for brutish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brutish
Adjective
  • Greer has points in three of Florida’s past four games while still showcasing his brute force on the ice (33 hits in nine games).
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
  • Tactics remained an afterthought, chucked aside in favor of brute force and the long ball.
    Pablo Maurer, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Lori survives the brutal events of prom night, but not without a fight.
    Jane LaCroix, People.com, 24 May 2025
  • Amid the brutal cuts across the federal government under the Trump administration, perhaps one of the most gutting is the loss of experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who respond to lead poisoning in children.
    John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 23 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Brutish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brutish. Accessed 31 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on brutish

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