brutally

/ˈbruːtəli/ (bre, ipa) · [brˈutəli] /ˈbruːtəli/ (ame, ipa) · [brˈutəli] /ˈbrü-tᵊl-ē How to pronounce brutally (audio)/ (ame, mw)

brutally — adverb

1. with savage violence and no pity for the person or animal being hurt

1.副詞B2
釋義

with savage violence and no pity for the person or animal being hurt

例句

The guards brutally beat the prisoner after the lights went out.

brutally + violent verb

Hunters brutally killed the trapped wolf beside the frozen river.

同義詞
  • cruelly

    the broadest near-synonym; it can describe emotional as well as physical cruelty.

  • savagely

    stresses ferocity and physical force even more strongly.

  • mercilessly

    focuses on the complete lack of pity or restraint.

反義詞
  • gently

    describes careful action that avoids causing pain.

  • humanely

    used when people treat others or animals with care and compassion.

  • kindly

    usually refers to warmth or goodwill rather than violence.

文法句型

brutally + beat/kill/attack + object

verb + object + brutally

用法筆記

Usually used with verbs such as 'beat', 'kill', or 'attack'. It emphasizes deliberate cruelty in the action, not simply great force.

常見錯誤

❌The men acted brutal toward the dog.
✅The men acted brutally toward the dog.
💡after a verb, use the adverb 'brutally', not the adjective 'brutal'.

2. by saying something unpleasant so directly that it sounds unkind or insulting

2.副詞B2
釋義

by saying something unpleasant so directly that it sounds unkind or insulting

例句

The editor brutally told Gabriel that his first draft was not ready.

brutally tell someone that + clause

Ari laughed when his brother brutally called the haircut a mistake.

同義詞
  • harshly

    broader and more general; it can describe severe words without the same focus on plain truth.

  • bluntly

    emphasizes directness and may sound less emotionally damaging than 'brutally'.

  • rudely

    focuses on bad manners rather than on painful honesty.

反義詞
  • tactfully

    shows care in how difficult truth is expressed.

  • gently

    softens criticism or bad news.

  • kindly

    adds warmth and concern for the other person's feelings.

文法句型

brutally + tell/warn/criticize + object

be brutally honest about + noun/clause

用法筆記

Often used with verbs of speaking or judgment, and very commonly with 'honest'. It suggests that the truth is delivered with little care for the listener's feelings.

常見錯誤

❌My boss was brutal honest with me.
✅My boss was brutally honest with me.
💡use the adverb 'brutally' to modify the adjective 'honest'.

3. to an extreme degree that feels harsh and causes serious suffering

3.副詞B2
釋義

to an extreme degree that feels harsh and causes serious suffering

例句

Families were brutally poor after the factory closed for good.

degree adverb before an adjective

The nurses were brutally tired after three nights in the emergency ward.

同義詞
  • severely

    the most neutral general synonym for harsh degree or impact.

  • harshly

    often used when conditions or rules feel hard on people.

  • painfully

    highlights the emotional or physical discomfort more directly.

反義詞
  • mildly

    describes a low degree with limited effect.

  • slightly

    shows only a small amount or degree.

  • comfortably

    fits situations where conditions are easy to live with.

文法句型

be brutally + adjective

brutally + hard/cold/poor/tired

用法筆記

Often placed before adjectives such as 'cold', 'hard', 'difficult', or 'poor'. Unlike sense 1, it does not suggest a person is intentionally cruel; it emphasizes how severe an experience feels.

常見錯誤

❌The exam was brutal difficult for most students.
✅The exam was brutally difficult for most students.
💡use the adverb before the adjective, not the adjective 'brutal'.