brunt
The principal force, shock, or worst part of an unpleasant action or situation. It is most commonly used in the idiomatic expression 'to bear the brunt of something,' referring to the person or thing that suffers the most.
Examples
3 of 5The old oak tree bore the brunt of the heavy gale last night.
The tree received the main force of the strong wind during the storm.
Developing nations often bear the brunt of global economic instability.
Poorer countries usually suffer the most when the world economy is unstable.
Since I was the oldest, I took the brunt of my parents' rules.
I had to deal with the toughest part of my parents' discipline because of my age.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of the word 'Front'. The people at the 'front' of a battle or a line are the ones who bear the 'brunt' (the main force) of the impact.
Quick Quiz
The hospitality industry had to ____ the brunt of the travel restrictions during the lockdowns.
Correct!
The correct answer is: bear
Examples
The old oak tree bore the brunt of the heavy gale last night.
everydayThe tree received the main force of the strong wind during the storm.
Developing nations often bear the brunt of global economic instability.
formalPoorer countries usually suffer the most when the world economy is unstable.
Since I was the oldest, I took the brunt of my parents' rules.
informalI had to deal with the toughest part of my parents' discipline because of my age.
The study indicates that low-income households bear the brunt of inflation.
academicResearch shows that poor families are hit hardest by rising prices.
Our customer service team will likely bear the brunt of the complaints after the product delay.
businessThe support staff will have to deal with the majority of the angry customers.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
bear the brunt of
to be the main recipient of a negative force
receive the brunt
to get the worst of a situation
face the brunt
to confront the most difficult part
Often Confused With
Burnt is the past tense of burn; brunt is a noun meaning the main force of something.
Blunt means not sharp or overly direct, while brunt refers to impact or force.
Usage Notes
Brunt is almost always used as a singular noun and is typically preceded by 'the'. It is almost exclusively paired with the verbs 'bear', 'take', or 'receive'.
Common Mistakes
Learners often try to use 'brunt' as a verb (e.g., 'the storm brunted the house'), which is incorrect. It must be used as a noun following a verb like 'bear'.
Memory Tip
Think of the word 'Front'. The people at the 'front' of a battle or a line are the ones who bear the 'brunt' (the main force) of the impact.
Word Origin
First recorded in the 14th century, likely originating from Old Norse or a similar Germanic source meaning a 'sharp blow' or 'attack'.
Grammar Patterns
Quick Quiz
The hospitality industry had to ____ the brunt of the travel restrictions during the lockdowns.
Correct!
The correct answer is: bear
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
people
A1People refers to a group of human beings or the general public. It is the standard plural form of the word 'person'.
put
A1To move something into a particular place or position. It is a fundamental verb used to describe the act of placing an object or setting a situation in a specific location.
mean
A1To have a specific sense or significance, especially when explaining a word or sign. It can also describe a person's intention or the importance of something to someone.
keep
A1To continue to have or hold something in your possession or at your disposal. It also means to remain in a specific state, condition, or position without changing.
begin
A1To start doing something or for an event to happen for the first time. It is often used to describe the first point of a process or activity.
seem
A1To give the impression of being something or having a particular quality based on what you see or hear. It is used to describe an appearance or feeling that may or may not be the actual truth.
help
A1To make it easier for someone to do something by offering your services, resources, or support. It can involve physical effort, providing information, or giving money to assist a person or a cause.
talk
A1To speak in order to give information or express ideas, feelings, or thoughts. It typically involves a conversation between two or more people or a person addressing an audience.
start
A1To begin doing something or to cause something to happen for the first time. It is frequently used when talking about movements, journeys, or making a machine or engine begin to work.
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