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brutishly

brutishly

1 8.1
In a cruel and violent way that hurts people
  • adverb
  • /ˈbruːtɪʃli/
  • NSFW
translation icon : brutalmente
  • Kohoutek was brutishly jealous, and he knew what he was about: the greatest living Polish writer belonged to the immortal generation of inveterate womanizers.

Examples

  • The soldiers acted brutishly, showing no mercy to their captives.

  • Then they pushed deeper into the forest, brutishly, the only way bulldozers and skidders can.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Whereas the king had brutishly usurped power, Washington declined it in a gesture that is a monument to civility's gentle self-effacement.

    Academic text (2009)
  • There was no accounting for them; they'd simply arrived, dumbly, brutishly, like strange orphan children towards whom she felt no family feeling but for whom she understood herself somehow responsible.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Tell the Chief Operating Officer of the CBP that brutishly enforcing their no-photos policy on citizens outside CBP buildings will not be tolerated.

    Blog text (31)
  • Rigging election results with e-voting machines is illegal, immoral, unethical, brutishly nasty, and I'm sick and tired of Repukes rigging elections one way or another.

    Blog text (28)
  • He criticized his colleague for speaking brutishly during the meeting.

  • The dog barked brutishly, scaring away anyone who approached the property.

Synonyms

brutally
vsbrutishly
  • Offensive
142 6.1

In a cruel or very harsh way that causes harm

is more about a crude, beastlike manner rather than general harshness
roughly
vsbrutishly
36 1.4

In a hard, violent way that shows no care

is more about savage, animallike cruelty than mere harsh treatment
viciously
vsbrutishly
34 5.7

In a cruel and violent way

focuses more on brutish, animal quality than on intentional harm
savagely
vsbrutishly
  • NSFW
22 6.7

In a very violent and cruel way

is similar but stresses coarse, animallike cruelty over pure fierceness
mercilessly
vsbrutishly
22 6.4

In a way that shows no pity

emphasizes animallike cruelty more than simply lacking compassion
ruthlessly
vsbrutishly
18 6.6

To act without pity and treat people very harshly

is about crude, beastlike cruelty rather than the absence of pity
ferociously
vsbrutishly
12 5.6

In a very strong and angry way

is cruel in a coarse, animallike way rather than merely intense
pitilessly
vsbrutishly
1 7.6

In a way that shows no pity or mercy

is cruel in a coarse, animal manner rather than only emotionless
barbarically
vsbrutishly
1 7.5

In a cruel and violent way that shows no kindness

is closer to simple animal savagery than social uncivilizedness
bestially
vsbrutishly
  • NSFW
9.1

In a violent, cruel way like a wild animal

is cruel and savage but not specifically animallike in image
butcherly
vsbrutishly
  • NSFW
9.9

Very cruel and violent, causing many deaths

is cruel in a crude, beastlike way rather than focused on gore
barbarously
vsbrutishly
8.3

In a cruel, violent way that hurts people

leans more toward raw animallike violence than societal uncivilizedness
rough
vsbrutishly
  • Informal
2.3

In a violent or harsh way

is specifically animallike and cruel rather than simply informal roughness

Antonyms

372 1.0

To do something with little force to avoid hurting or making noise

In a kind way that shows care for people who are suffering

How Cruel

savagely
  • NSFW
22 6.7
brutishly
  • NSFW
1 8.1
cruelly
16 3.0
unkindly
4 4.4

Surface Forms

brutishly positive
brutishlier comparative
brutishliest superlative

Morphology

brutishly = brutish (transparent) = brute + ish + ly

Adding the adverbial suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'brutish' produces an expected adverb meaning 'in a cruel or savage manner'.

Etymology

Brutishly comes from brute, the same root as brutal, and that root meant 'beast' or 'savage'. So, to act brutishly is to behave like a beast — cruel, rough, and without care for others.