brutal brutal /ˈbruːtəl/

adjective

1. () (of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering  ( barbarous , fell , roughshod , brutal , cruel , savage , vicious )
   (of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
    A barbarous crime
   a barbarous crime
    Brutal beatings
   brutal beatings
    Cruel tortures
   cruel tortures
    Stalin's roughshod treatment of the kulaks
   Stalin's roughshod treatment of the kulaks
    A savage slap
   a savage slap
    Vicious kicks
   vicious kicks
   
2. Disagreeably direct and precise  ( brutal )
   disagreeably direct and precise
    He spoke with brutal honesty
   he spoke with brutal honesty
   
3. Resembling a beast; showing lack of human sensibility  ( beastly , brutal , brutish , bestial , brute )
   resembling a beast; showing lack of human sensibility
    Beastly desires
   beastly desires
    A bestial nature
   a bestial nature
    Brute force
   brute force
    A dull and brutish man
   a dull and brutish man
    Bestial treatment of prisoners
   bestial treatment of prisoners
   
4. Punishingly harsh  ( brutal , unrelenting )
   punishingly harsh
    The brutal summer sun
   the brutal summer sun
    A brutal winter
   a brutal winter