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Original · left

Brute force (physical)

Using raw physical strength rather than skill.

First in use: the 1700s
Duplicate · right

Brute-force attack

Cracking a password or key by systematically trying every possibility.

First in use: the 1970s

Brute force / Brute force (physical) / Brute-force attack

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Raw strength vs. guessing every password.

Which meaning of Brute force is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Brute force (physical) came first (the 1700s). Brute-force attack arrived in the 1970s. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Brute force (physical)Brute-force attack
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

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The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · the 1700s

Brute force (physical)

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Duplicate · the 1970s

Brute-force attack

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More duplicated terms

Cybersecurity