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Glite Dictionary
💪 A tough man 🕹️ A strong fighter
bruiser

bruiser

1 7.8
A fighter who fights close to enemies, takes damage, and deals steady attacks
  • noun
  • /ˈbruːzər/
  • Jargon
translation icon : tanque
  • Well, I've been playing a lot of TT matches lately, and 2 tanks and a bruiser are pretty effective (much less so now that TM is gone... which pisses me off).

Examples

  • Endurance directly influences the traits of Weapon Master and Healer, and plays a role with a trait of Bruiser, Intellect.

  • A bruiser in a wrestling mask paid me to hand over my key card and take the day off.

    The Inn (2024)

  • Ohmwrecker will also be removed due to its skewed benefits toward bruisers and tanks.

    Blog text (15)

  • Smith is more of a bruiser between the hashes, while Gulley is the speed option in the backfield and sees a lot of time as the check-down option for Nassib on pass plays.

    Blog text (11)

  • In the fighting game, I always choose a bruiser character because I prefer to absorb damage and deal steady blows.

  • The team desperately needed a bruiser to help them withstand the onslaught of the opposing players.

  • Playing as a bruiser, he could endure hits while dishing out powerful strikes in close combat.

Synonyms

tank
vsbruiser
  • Jargon
93 4.8

A player who protects teammates by taking enemy attacks

is less exclusively defensive and also deals steady close-range damage
brawler
vsbruiser
  • Jargon
1 5.3

A video game where players fight many enemies up close, often with friends

combines durability and steady damage rather than only a combat style focus

Antonyms

weak
524 1.0

Not strong in body or muscles and easily tired

fragile
83 3.4

Easily broken or damaged because it is not strong

Compounds

real bruiser
  • Informal
1 7.5

A person who is very strong and tough, like a boxer or a team defender

How Durable

tank
  • Jargon
93 4.8
bruiser
  • Jargon
1 7.8

Surface Forms

bruiser singular
bruisers plural

Morphology

bruiser = bruise (transparent) = bruise + er

Standard agentive derivation from the verb 'bruise' + '-er'; the gaming sense (durable melee fighter) is a predictable metaphorical extension of a 'tough, hard-hitting' person.

Etymology

Bruiser in games uses the same idea: it comes from bruise ('to hurt by hitting') plus the ending -er. So a gaming bruiser is a fighter who both deals and takes heavy hits, making them strong in close fights.