brunt
Use Brunt in a sentence
noun
the main force or impact, as of an attack or blow: His arm took the brunt of the blow.
Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English; perhaps orig. sexual assault; akin to Old Norse brundr, German Brunft heat, ruttish state, Old English brunetha heat, itching; cognate with Old High German bronado. See burn1
1275–1325; Middle English; perhaps orig. sexual assault; akin to Old Norse brundr, German Brunft heat, ruttish state, Old English brunetha heat, itching; cognate with Old High German bronado. See burn1
Synonyms
thrust, stress, burden.
thrust, stress, burden.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To brunt
Collins
World English Dictionary
brunt (brʌnt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| the main force or shock of a blow, attack, etc (esp in the phrase bear the brunt of) | |
| [C14: of unknown origin] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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00:10
Brunt
is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
| a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
brunt
early 14c., "a sharp blow," of uncertain origin, perhaps from O.N. brundr "sexual heat," or bruna "to advance like wildfire." Meaning "chief force" is first attested 1570s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
Singaporeans do not bear the brunt of the economic downturn.
How interesting that the staff must always be take the brunt of criticism.
And it is the public sector that will bear the brunt of the coming crunch.
Hopefully automation can bear the brunt of productivity.
Idioms & Phrases
Nearby Words
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