The main force or impact of something difficult or unpleasant; the worst part.
From Middle English 'brunt,' possibly related to Old Norse 'bruntr' meaning 'heat.' It originally meant an assault or attack, then evolved to mean the main force of anything.
Military leaders talk about 'bearing the brunt' of an attack, and during the Holocaust, certain groups bore the brunt of Nazi atrocities in devastating ways—understanding who bears the brunt of hardship helps us recognize injustice.
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