brutalize
C1Formal; used in journalism, academic discourse, and serious conversation.
Definition
Meaning
To treat someone in a cruel, violent, or savage way.
To make someone become less sensitive or more cruel through exposure to violence or harsh treatment.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb can be transitive (brutalize someone) or reflexive (brutalize oneself). The related noun is 'brutalization'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English also commonly uses the spelling 'brutalise'. The meaning is identical.
Connotations
Strongly negative connotation in both varieties, implying extreme cruelty and dehumanization.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American news media and human rights discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] brutalizes [Object][Object] was brutalized by [Subject]The experience brutalized him.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms with this exact form]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; might be used metaphorically: 'The cutthroat market brutalized smaller competitors.'
Academic
Common in political science, history, and human rights literature to describe state violence.
Everyday
Used in serious discussions about crime, war, or abuse.
Technical
In law and human rights reports to describe violations.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The regime was found to have brutalised political dissidents.
- Years in the trenches had brutalised the young soldiers.
American English
- The report details how guards brutalized inmates.
- Poverty and neglect can brutalize a community.
adverb
British English
- [Adverbial form is 'brutally'] The prisoner was brutally beaten.
- He spoke brutally honestly about the failure.
American English
- [Adverbial form is 'brutally'] The system is brutally efficient.
- She was brutally attacked in the parking lot.
adjective
British English
- [Adjectival form is 'brutal'] The attack was a brutal display of power.
- He described the experience in brutal detail.
American English
- [Adjectival form is 'brutal'] They faced brutal criticism.
- The film is a brutal depiction of war.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The bad king brutalized his people.
- The story is about a man who brutalizes animals.
- The documentary showed how the dictatorship brutalized its opponents.
- Constant exposure to violence can brutalize a person's character.
- The commission's findings revealed a systematic campaign to brutalize and demoralise the civilian population.
- War has the capacity to brutalize even the most compassionate individuals, eroding their sense of empathy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BRUte (like a brute) who is so cruel he BRUTALIZES others.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRUELTY IS ANIMALISTIC BEHAVIOR (to brutalize is to reduce someone to a brute/animal state).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'to brutalize' and Russian 'брутальный' (which means 'masculine/roughly handsome').
- Closer to 'зверски обращаться' or 'ожесточать'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He was very brutalized by the news.' (Use 'shocked' or 'devastated'). Brutalize implies physical violence or prolonged cruelty.
- Incorrect preposition: 'brutalize against' – the verb is transitive.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'brutalize' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, though its core is physical violence, it can extend to severe psychological cruelty that 'dehumanizes' someone.
'Brutalize' focuses on inflicting cruelty and physical/mental damage, while 'terrorize' emphasizes creating extreme fear. They often occur together.
It is not an everyday word; it is used in formal, journalistic, or academic contexts to describe severe abuse.
The noun is 'brutalization' (US) / 'brutalisation' (UK), meaning the act or process of brutalizing.