B2 verb Formel

brutalize

/ˈbruː.tə.laɪz/

To treat someone in a very cruel, violent, or insensitive manner, often leading to a loss of humanity or moral standards in the victim. It can also refer to the process of becoming desensitized to violence or harshness through repeated exposure.

Exemples

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1

The harsh conditions in the labor camp began to brutalize the prisoners.

The severe living conditions in the camp started making the prisoners lose their sense of humanity.

2

International organizations condemned the regime's attempt to brutalize the civilian population into submission.

Global groups criticized the government for using extreme cruelty to force the citizens to obey.

3

Don't let a few bad experiences in the city brutalize you; keep your kind heart.

Do not let negative experiences make you cold or hard-hearted; remain a nice person.

Famille de mots

Nom
brutalization
Verb
brutalize
Adverbe
brutally
Adjectif
brutalized
Apparenté
brutality
💡

Astuce mémo

Think of a 'Brute' (a violent, unthinking beast) and the suffix '-ize' (to make). To brutalize someone is to treat them so badly that you turn them into a brute.

Quiz rapide

Historians argue that the long years of trench warfare served to ________ the young soldiers, making them cold to the horrors of death.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : brutalize

Exemples

1

The harsh conditions in the labor camp began to brutalize the prisoners.

everyday

The severe living conditions in the camp started making the prisoners lose their sense of humanity.

2

International organizations condemned the regime's attempt to brutalize the civilian population into submission.

formal

Global groups criticized the government for using extreme cruelty to force the citizens to obey.

3

Don't let a few bad experiences in the city brutalize you; keep your kind heart.

informal

Do not let negative experiences make you cold or hard-hearted; remain a nice person.

4

Sociological studies suggest that prolonged exposure to media violence can brutalize the collective psyche of a society.

academic

Academic research implies that seeing too much violence in movies and news can make a whole society less sensitive to suffering.

5

The aggressive corporate culture had started to brutalize the managers, making them indifferent to their employees' well-being.

business

The competitive workplace environment made the bosses act cruelly and stop caring about their staff.

Famille de mots

Nom
brutalization
Verb
brutalize
Adverbe
brutally
Adjectif
brutalized
Apparenté
brutality

Collocations courantes

brutalize the population to treat the general public with extreme cruelty
systematically brutalize to apply violence or cruelty in a planned, organized way
brutalize the mind to make someone's thoughts or feelings harsh and insensitive
brutalized by war made cruel or desensitized by the experience of conflict
the power to brutalize having the capacity to make others act or feel like animals

Phrases Courantes

brutalizing effects

the negative consequences of being treated cruelly

brutalize the senses

to overwhelm or deaden one's perceptions through harshness

brutalized soul

a person who has become hard or insensitive due to suffering

Souvent confondu avec

brutalize vs belittle

To belittle means to make someone feel small or unimportant through words, while to brutalize involves physical or extreme psychological cruelty.

brutalize vs brutal

Brutal is an adjective describing something harsh; brutalize is the verb for the process of making something or someone harsh.

📝

Notes d'usage

The word is most frequently used in the passive voice (e.g., 'they were brutalized') to describe victims. It implies a deeper change in character or psychology than simple 'abuse' or 'injury.'

⚠️

Erreurs courantes

Learners often use 'brutalize' as a synonym for 'to be honest' because of the phrase 'to be brutally honest.' However, 'brutalize' always implies a negative, cruel transformation.

💡

Astuce mémo

Think of a 'Brute' (a violent, unthinking beast) and the suffix '-ize' (to make). To brutalize someone is to treat them so badly that you turn them into a brute.

📖

Origine du mot

Derived from the Middle French 'brutal,' which comes from the Latin 'brutus,' meaning 'dull, stupid, or heavy.'

Modèles grammaticaux

transitive verb (requires an object) often used in the passive voice regular verb conjugation (brutalized, brutalizing)
🌍

Contexte culturel

The term is frequently used in human rights discourses and historical accounts of slavery, colonialism, and warfare to describe the erosion of empathy.

Quiz rapide

Historians argue that the long years of trench warfare served to ________ the young soldiers, making them cold to the horrors of death.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : brutalize

Mots lis

unformible

C1

A noun referring to an entity, substance, or abstract concept that resists being shaped, structured, or categorized into a standard mold. It is often used in technical or philosophical contexts to describe something inherently chaotic or unstructured that defies traditional organization.

overpedery

C1

Describes a state or quality of being excessively concerned with minor details, formal rules, or displaying academic knowledge in a tedious way. It is typically used to criticize someone for being 'too much of a pedant' in their approach to a task or subject.

entractery

C1

Describing something that occurs during or pertains to an intermission or the interval between main acts of a performance. It is often used to characterize supplementary entertainment, music, or transitional activities that fill the gap between primary events.

nonceddom

C1

To designate or treat an entity, such as a word or a technical variable, as a temporary 'nonce' item created for a single, specific occasion. It involves isolating a concept so it does not become a permanent part of a system or vocabulary.

misvertible

C1

To incorrectly convert, transpose, or invert a sequence, data set, or logical statement. This verb describes the specific act of failing to maintain accuracy during a transformation process, resulting in a flawed output.

perivestance

C1

The state or act of surrounding an object or entity, often providing a protective, decorative, or atmospheric layer. It refers to the encompassing environment or the 'clothing' of a central core with external elements.

obscribic

C1

To write over existing text or markings in order to conceal, invalidate, or replace them. It specifically refers to the act of using new writing to obscure what was previously written on a surface.

abflexism

C1

To consciously or unconsciously contract the abdominal muscles and core as a response to physical or psychological stressors. This verb describes the act of adopting a rigid internal posture to display strength, maintain stability, or resist external pressure.

interarchship

C1

Relating to the structural or functional relationship existing between two dental or physiological arches, typically the upper and lower jaws. It describes the state of alignment, spacing, and interaction between these opposing structures in a clinical or biological context.

trimarship

C1

Describing a state of balanced three-way coordination or a structure characterized by tripartite leadership. It is typically used to define systems where three distinct entities share equal power or responsibility to maintain stability.

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