Library / English Dictionary

BRUTALIZE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Become brutal or insensitive and unfeeling

Synonyms:

animalise; animalize; brutalise; brutalize

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "brutalize" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

brutal (resembling a beast; showing lack of human sensibility)

brutalization (an act that makes people cruel or lacking normal human qualities)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make brutal, unfeeling, or inhuman

Example:

Life in the camps had brutalized him

Synonyms:

animalise; animalize; brutalise; brutalize

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "brutalize" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

brutal (resembling a beast; showing lack of human sensibility)

brutalization (an act that makes people cruel or lacking normal human qualities)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Treat brutally

Synonyms:

brutalise; brutalize

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "brutalize" is one way to...):

do by; handle; treat (interact in a certain way)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

brutalization (the activity of treating someone savagely or viciously)

brutalization (the condition of being treated in a cruel and savage manner)

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