Synonyms of brutal
91 similar words · 2 opposite words
Another word for brutal is fell. Other synonyms of brutal are malicious, ruthless, cruel, barbarian and barbaric. The opposite of brutal is kind.
Synonyms and similar words for brutal
adjectiveSavagely violent, vicious, ruthless, or cruel, often in an unintelligent manner.
- barbaricOf or relating to a barbarian; uncivilized, uncultured or uncouth.
- barbarousUncivilized, uncultured.
- savageBrutal, vicious, or merciless.
- truculentCruel or savage.
- compassionlessWithout compassion; hardhearted.
- cruelHarsh; severe.
- flagitious formalExtremely brutal or wicked; heinous, monstrous.
- demonic figurativelyExtremely cruel or evil; abhorrent or repugnant; diabolical.
- diabolic figurativelyWicked; evil; cruel.
- diabolical figurativelyExtremely wicked or cruel.
- fellOf a strong and cruel nature; eager and unsparing; grim; fierce; ruthless; savage.
- incessiveFierce; cruel and aggressive.
- inhumanOf or pertaining to inhumanity and the indifferently cruel, sadistic or barbaric behavior it brings.
- inhumane
- maliciousIntending to do harm; characterized by spite and malice.
- mercilessShowing no mercy; cruel and pitiless.
- nastySpiteful, unkind.
- nonhumaneNot humane, inhumane.
- pitilessHaving, or showing, no pity; merciless, ruthless.
- remorselessWithout remorse, mercy or pity.
- rottenCruel, mean or immoral.
- ruthlessWithout pity or compassion; cruel, pitiless.
- sadisticDelighting in or feeling pleasure from the pain or humiliation of others.
- spitefulFilled with, or showing, spite; having a desire to annoy or harm.
- unbenevolentNot benevolent.
- unbenignNot benign; malevolent.
- unkind
- unmercifulNot showing mercy.
- unpityingNot feeling or showing pity.
- animalisticIn the behaviour of an animal savage; untamed.
- barbarianRelating to people, countries, or customs perceived as uncivilized or inferior.
- brutishBestial; lacking human sensibility.
- Gothic figurativelyBarbarous, rude, unpolished, belonging to the “Dark Ages”, medieval as opposed to classical.
- GothlikeLike a Goth (ancient Teutonic); barbaric, pitilessly destructive.
- heathenUncultured; uncivilized; savage; barbarian.
- heathenishResembling a heathen.
- heathenlyHeathen.
- heathenousCharacteristic of a heathen.
- pagan derogatorySavage, immoral, uncivilized, wild.
- tenebrose figurativelyMorally, culturally or mentally benighted; backward; uncivilized.
- uncivilNot civilized.
- uncivilizedCrude, barbarous, wild, uncultured.
- uncouth
- uncultivatedInadequately educated; lacking art or knowledge.
- unculturedNot cultured or civilized; lacking in delicacy or refinement; philistine.
- wolfishFierce; menacing; savage.
- bowelless obsoleteWithout pity.
- despiteful archaicFull of despite; expressing malice or contemptuous hate.
- inclement obsoleteMerciless, unrelenting.
- unpitiful archaicWithout pity; pitiless.
- barbarious dated, literaryBarbarous, barbaric.
- grim obsoleteDismal and gloomy, cold and forbidding.
- incivil rareUncivilized, barbarous.
- uplandish obsoleteRustic, rude, boorish; countrified, unsophisticated, or uncivilized.
adjectiveCrude or unfeeling in manner or speech.
adjectiveHarsh; unrelenting.
- callousEmotionally hardened; unfeeling and indifferent to the suffering/feelings of others.
- severeStrict or harsh.
- unyieldingNot giving in; not bending; stubborn.
- coldWithout compassion; heartless; ruthless.
- insensate formalUnfeeling, heartless, cruel, insensitive.
- hardhanded
- cold-eyedThat looks coldly or dispassionately; having a fierce or aloof mein.
- dour
- thick-skinned
- flint-heartedSynonym of hardhearted.
- forbiddingAppearing to be threatening, unfriendly or potentially unpleasant.
- frostyHaving an aloof or inhospitable manner.
- hardSevere, harsh, unfriendly, brutal.
- hard-boiledOf a person, especially a detective, callous and unsentimental.
- hardenedUnfeeling; pitiless; callous.
- hardheartedLacking in compassion; cold and pitiless.
- heartlessWithout feeling, emotion, or concern for others; uncaring; cruel.
- harshSevere or cruel.
- humorlessLacking humor or levity; serious; not funny, amusing, amused, or lighthearted.
- icyCharacterized by coldness of manner; frigid; cold.
- iron-heartedSynonym of hardhearted.
- insensitiveNot expressing normal emotional feelings; cold; tactless; undiplomatic.
- marble-heartedEmotionally cold, cruel, and unfeeling.
- rigorous
- rockheartedSynonym of hardhearted.
- stern
- stoneheartedSynonym of hardhearted.
- stonyOf a person, lacking warmth and emotion.
- stonyheartedCruel, compassionless, discompassionate, as if having a heart made of stone.
- strictSevere in discipline.
- toughStrict, not lenient.
- unsympatheticNot sympathetic; ill-disposed.
- unmovedNot sympathetic; uncaring.
adjectiveDirect and without attempt to disguise unpleasantness.
- unsubtleNot subtle; obvious.
Opposite of brutal
Meaning of brutal
- adjective Savagely violent, vicious, ruthless, or cruel, often in an unintelligent manner.
- adjective Crude or unfeeling in manner or speech.
- adjective Harsh; unrelenting.
brutal in other languages
Questions about synonyms of brutal
- What is another word for brutal?
- Brutal has 91 synonyms on Word.ws, such as fell, malicious, ruthless, cruel, barbarian, barbaric, inhuman and sadistic.
- What is the opposite of brutal?
- The opposite of brutal is kind.
- What does brutal mean?
- Brutal means savagely violent, vicious, ruthless, or cruel, often in an unintelligent manner.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: brutal (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “Synonyms of brutal.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/brutal. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.