'brute force' definitions:

Definition of 'brute force'

From: GCIDE
  • Brute \Brute\, a. [F. brut, nasc., brute, fem., raw, rough, rude, brutish, L. brutus stupid, irrational: cf. It. & Sp. bruto.]
  • 1. Not having sensation; senseless; inanimate; unconscious; without intelligence or volition; as, the brute earth; the brute powers of nature. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Not possessing reason, irrational; unthinking; as, a brute beast; the brute creation. [1913 Webster]
  • A creature . . . not prone And brute as other creatures, but endued With sanctity of reason. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of, a brute beast. Hence: Brutal; cruel; fierce; ferocious; savage; pitiless; as, brute violence. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
  • The influence of capital and mere brute labor. --Playfair. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Having the physical powers predominating over the mental; coarse; unpolished; unintelligent. [1913 Webster]
  • A great brute farmer from Liddesdale. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Rough; uncivilized; unfeeling. [R.] [1913 Webster]
  • brute force, The application of predominantly physical effort to achieve a goal that could be accomplished with less effort if more carefully considered. Figuratively, repetitive or strenuous application of an obvious or simple tactic, as contrasted with a more clever stratagem achieving the same goal with less effort; -- as, the first prime numbers were discovered by the brute force repetition of the Sieve of Eratosthenes. [PJC]

Synonyms of 'brute force'

From: Moby Thesaurus