Synonyms

brunt

American

[bruhnt] / brʌnt /

noun

the main force or impact, as of an attack or blow.

His arm took the brunt of the blow.

Synonyms:

burden, stress, thrust

brunt British

/ brʌnt /

noun

the main force or shock of a blow, attack, etc (esp in the phrase bear the brunt of )

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

brunt Idioms

see bear the brunt.

Etymology

Origin of brunt

1275–1325; Middle English; perhaps originally sexual assault; akin to Old Norse brundr, German Brunft heat, ruttish state, Old English brunetha heat, itching; cognate with Old High German bronado. See burn ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But analysis by BBC Monitoring of high-profile kidnapping in Africa has shown that, in terms of numbers, Chinese workers bore the brunt of foreign abductions.

From BBC

Consumers in the U.K. continue to bear the brunt of a cost-of-living crisis gripping the country.

From The Wall Street Journal

Technology stocks have borne the brunt of investors’ skepticism, as concerns mount about stretched valuations and AI’s impact on corporate earnings.

From The Wall Street Journal

Big builders were among the companies bearing the brunt of dampened housing expectations on Wednesday: D.R.

From Barron's

The double burden for working mothers of managing the brunt of household chores and childcare while also maintaining their careers is another key factor, they say.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023