brutal reality

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "brutal reality" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that is particularly harsh or unpleasant. For example, "The brutal reality of poverty is that it can affect anyone, regardless of their background."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That is the brutal reality".

The New York Times

Its opening returns Diane to brutal reality.

The Guardian - Film

That is the brutal reality of it.

The New York Times - Sports

that is the sick and brutal reality of Isil".

Independent

Layoffs are a brutal reality of corporate America.

The New York Times

On the other hand is the brutal reality of Lydda".

The New Yorker

That is the "brutal reality" of competition in the industry, he said.

The New York Times

He paints a brutal reality, but certainly not one beyond redemption.

Independent

Today we are confronted with the brutal reality – that efforts so far are insufficient.

Independent

Prison security, imperiled by the brutal reality of prison gangs, provides the backdrop of the State’s interest.

Cornell University

It took them a long time to understand that brutal reality.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "brutal reality" with specific examples to illustrate the severity of the situation and make your point more impactful.

Common error

Avoid using "brutal reality" too frequently in your writing, as it can lose its impact. Instead, vary your language with synonyms to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "brutal reality" functions as a noun phrase, where "brutal" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "reality". It emphasizes the unpleasant and harsh nature of a particular truth or situation. Ludwig AI validates this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "brutal reality" effectively conveys a harsh and unpleasant truth. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in News & Media and Academia. While highly impactful, it's important to avoid overuse and consider synonyms like "harsh truth" or "grim fact" for variety. Remember to use "brutal reality" to emphasize the starkness of a situation, encouraging audiences to confront difficult truths directly. Using specific examples with the phrase can add further impact to your statements. With a solid source quality score and expert rating, this phrase is a valuable tool in expressing unpleasant realities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harsh truth

Replaces "reality" with "truth", focusing on the verity being unpleasant.

grim fact

Substitutes "reality" with "fact" and "brutal" with "grim", implying a depressing truth.

stark truth

Uses "stark" instead of "brutal", suggesting a bare and unpleasant truth.

unvarnished truth

Implies the truth is plain and without embellishment, thus potentially harsh.

unpleasant fact

Focuses on the disagreeable nature of the fact, softening the intensity.

sobering reality

Highlights the sobering or serious nature of the reality.

cruel fact

Emphasizes the malicious nature of the fact or reality.

bitter truth

Uses "bitter" to describe the taste or feeling associated with the truth.

difficult truth

Focuses on the challenging aspect of accepting the truth.

painful reality

Highlights the emotional suffering caused by the reality.

FAQs

How can I use "brutal reality" in a sentence?

Use "brutal reality" to highlight a harsh or unpleasant truth, such as, "The "harsh truth" is that many startups fail within their first year".

What are some alternatives to "brutal reality"?

Alternatives include "grim fact", "stark truth", or "unpleasant fact", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "brutal reality" in formal writing?

While "brutal reality" is acceptable, consider using more formal alternatives like "sobering reality" or "difficult truth" in highly formal contexts.

What is the difference between "brutal reality" and "harsh reality"?

"Brutal reality" emphasizes the cruelty or harshness of the situation, while "harsh reality" simply indicates a difficult or unpleasant truth. The former carries a stronger emotional charge.