1. swinish A brutish man simply follows his animal instincts, without special inclination to do harm; the brutal have always a spirit of malice and cruelty. Brute has no special character, except as ind Synonyms: brutish, animal, brutal, ignorant, sensual, swinish, base, brute, imbruted, sottish, unintellectual, beastly, carnal, insensible, stolid, unspiritual, bestial, coarse, lascivious, stupid, vile Antonyms: elevated, exalted, great, intellectual, noble, enlightened, grand, humane, intelligent, refined