# brutal

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈbɹuː.təl/ · frequency rank #6,030

## Definitions
1. Savagely violent, vicious, ruthless, or cruel, often in an unintelligent manner.
2. Crude or unfeeling in manner or speech.
3. Harsh; unrelenting.
4. Disagreeably precise or penetrating.
5. In extreme metal, to describe the speed of the music and the density of riffs.
6. Direct and without attempt to disguise unpleasantness.

## Etymology
From Medieval Latin brutalis (“savage, stupid”), from Latin brūtus (“dull, stupid”).

## Easily confused with
- **brute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brutal-vs-brute)
- **Brutus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brutal-vs-brutus)
- **brutes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brutal-vs-brutes)
- **brutally** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brutal-vs-brutally)
- **brut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brut-vs-brutal)
- **bridal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bridal-vs-brutal)
- **Bhutan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bhutan-vs-brutal)

## Common misspellings (9)
`bbrutal`, `brrutal`, `brtual`, `bruatl`, `brutall`, `brutla`, `bruttal`, `burtal`, `rbutal`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/brutal