Adjective
1. lacking or showing kindness or compassion or mercy
2. (of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering;
"a barbarous crime""brutal beatings""cruel tortures""Stalin's roughshod treatment of the kulaks""a savage slap""vicious kicks"3. (of weapons or instruments) causing suffering and pain;
"brutal instruments of torture""cruel weapons of war"4. used of circumstances (especially weather) that cause suffering;
"brutal weather""northern winters can be cruel""a cruel world""a harsh climate""a rigorous climate""unkind winters"