Definition

Noun: 1. The act of making someone or something brutal; the process of becoming brutal: The action of causing people or behavior to become cruel, violent, or lacking in normal human sensitivities. 2. Savage and cruel treatment: The activity of treating someone with extreme cruelty or viciousness. 3. The state of being brutalized: The condition of having been treated in a cruel, savage, or inhumane manner.

Usage and Examples

• The brutalization of soldiers in war can have lasting psychological effects. (Here, brutalization refers to the of making them brutal.)
• The report documented the systematic brutalization of prisoners by the guards. (Here, brutalization refers to the itself.)
• Years of abuse and neglect led to his complete brutalization. (Here, brutalization refers to the resulting or state of being brutalized.)

Advanced Usage

• Societal brutalization: This phrase is used in sociological contexts to describe a process where a society or culture becomes increasingly tolerant of or prone to violence and cruelty.
  • Some theorists argue that constant exposure to media violence contributes to the brutalization of society.

Variants and Related Words

• Brutalize (verb): To make brutal, or to treat brutally.
  • The dictator sought to brutalize his opponents into submission.
• Brutal (adjective): Savagely violent; cruel.
• Brutality (noun): Savage physical violence; great cruelty. (Note: typically refers to a specific instance or quality of cruel violence, while often refers to the process or condition resulting from such treatment.)

Synonyms

• Dehumanization
• Barbarization
• Cruel treatment
• Viciousness
• Desensitization (in the context of making someone less sensitive to cruelty)

Noun

1. an act that makes people cruel or lacking normal human qualities
2. the activity of treating someone savagely or viciously
3. the condition of being treated in a cruel and savage manner