Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

brunt

/bɹʌnt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.12 in modern English

Syllables: brunt
IPA: /bɹʌnt/

7

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

1

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The full adverse effects; the chief consequences or negative results of a thing or event.

noun

The force or shock of an attack in war.

noun

The major part of something; the bulk.

noun

A violent attack or charge in battle.

Obsolete

noun

A sudden harmful onset or attack (of disease, unbelief, persecution, etc.).

Obsolete

noun

A spurt, a sudden effort or straining.

Obsolete

verb

To bear the brunt of; to weather or withstand.

Transitive verb

verb

To make a violent attack or charge.

Intransitive verb; Obsolete

Example Sentences

"Unfortunately, poor areas such as those in New Orleans bore the brunt of Hurricane Katrina’s winds."
"There is an economy in the matter of breakages and repairs, for if the plough should be brought up upon a landfast rock, instead of the brunt coming simply on the draught rope, which would either snap or pull the framework of the plough to pieces, it is, through the pull of the one drum upon the other, immediately spread all over the field wherever the rope goes […]"
"Though the storm raged up the East Coast, it has become increasingly apparent that New Jersey took the brunt of it."
"If you feel tired of walking, just think of the poor donkey who has carried the brunt of our load."
"Tech[elles]. I heare them come, ſhall wee encounter them? Tam[burlaine]. Keep all your ſtandings, and not ſtir a foot, Myſelfe will bide the danger of the brunt."
""… I say." Ripton resumed the serious intonation, "do you think they'll ever suspect us?" "What if they do? We must brunt it." We brunted the storm."

Etymology

From Middle English brunt, bront (“sudden onset, attack, charge, blow”), from Old Norse brundr or brundtíð (“oestrus, rut”) (from Proto-Germanic *brunstiz), or bruna (“to rush”, literally “to advance like wildfire”) (see brenna).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: brunt, brundr, *brunstiz, -

Usage

Inflected Forms

brunts (plural) brunts (present, singular) brunting (participle, present) brunted (participle, past) brunted (past)

Phrases

at a brunt at the first brunt bear the brunt

Rhymes With

front hunt blunt cunt stunt confront punt grunt affront bunt shunt lunt

Questions

How do you pronounce brunt?: The recorded pronunciation is /bɹʌnt/.
What does brunt mean?: The full adverse effects; the chief consequences or negative results of a thing or event.
Where does brunt come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce brunt

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “brunt”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/bɹʌnt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “brunt”.
Repeat and practice — Say “brunt” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.