brutalise

/ˈbɹuːt(ə)lʌɪz/

//ˈbɹuːt(ə)lʌɪz// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"brutalise" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“brutalise” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To inflict brutal violence on.

Key facts for brutalise
PropertyValue
Headwordbrutalise
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈbɹuːt(ə)lʌɪz/
Letters9
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “brutalise” sits in English frequency

brutalise falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

brutalise is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb, transcribed /ˈbɹuːt(ə)lʌɪz/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for brutalise, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From brutal + -ise. The correct English form is brutalise, spelled B-R-U-T-A-L-I-S-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To inflict brutal violence on.
  2. 2
    To make brutal, cruel or harsh.
  3. 3
    To live or behave like a brute.

Etymology

From brutal + -ise.

This word in other languages

brutaliser(Français)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "brutalise"?
"brutalise" is spelled B-R-U-T-A-L-I-S-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈbɹuːt(ə)lʌɪz/.
What does "brutalise" mean?
As a verb, "brutalise" means: To inflict brutal violence on.
How do you pronounce "brutalise"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "brutalise" is /ˈbɹuːt(ə)lʌɪz/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "brutalise"?
From brutal + -ise. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “brutalise”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is B-R-U-T-A-L-I-S-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈbɹuːt(ə)lʌɪz/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list