Savage, brutal (7)
I believe the answer is:
vicious
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'savage' is the first definition.
(synonyms)
'brutal' is the second definition.
(synonyms)
(Other definitions for vicious that I've seen before include "Malicious - degenerate" , "Cruel, wicked" , "Brutal, savage and dangerous" , "Deliberately cruel or violent" , "Deliberately harmful and savage" .)