brutal
UK[ˈbruːtl]US[ˈbruːtl]
adj
extremely violent or cruel, causing great pain or suffering
adj
direct and without any attempt to hide unpleasant facts; harsh and unforgiving
Morpheme Breakdown
brut
al
brut
savage
al
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word brutal traces its lineage to the latin brutus, which originally meant heavy or dull, and by extension, irrational or savage. this latin term is thought to be of oscan origin, a now-extinct italic language. the sense evolved from describing a dull, insensible state to characterizing actions marked by animalistic cruelty and a lack of human reason. the suffix -alis was added to form the adjective, which entered english via middle french brutal in the 15th century, solidifying its modern meaning of extreme, remorseless violence or harshness.
Analysis
Structure: brut (savage) + al (adjective suffix)
brut (from latin brutus, meaning heavy, stupid, savage); al (from latin adjectival suffix -alis, meaning of, relating to, or characterized by)
Examples
the dictator was known for his brutal suppression of any dissent.
she gave a brutal assessment of his performance, leaving no room for doubt.
the marathon was a brutal test of endurance under the scorching sun.