bru·tal / ˈbroōtl/ • adj. savagely violent: a brutal murder. ∎  punishingly hard or uncomfortable: the brutal winter wind. ∎  without any attempt to disguise unpleasantness: the brutal honesty of his observations.DERIVATIVES: bru·tal·i·ty / broōˈtalitē/ n.bru·tal·ly adv.

brutal †animal XV; inhuman, brutish XVI. — (O)F. brutal or medL. brutālis, f. L. brūtus BRUTE + -AL1.
Hence brutality XVI. brutalize XVIII. — F. So brute adj. (esp. in brute beast) of the lower animals XV; brutish; irrational XVI; sb. lower animal XVII. — F. brut(e) — L. brūtus heavy, stupid, dull. Hence brutish XV; see -ISH1.