"Bear the brunt of" is a common expression used to refer to the person who is most affected or injured by something. There are several synonyms that can be used instead of this phrase. One alternative is "shoulder the burden" which describes someone who is carrying the weight or responsibility of something difficult. Another option is "take the heat" which suggests someone is facing criticism or blame for something. "Absorb the shock" is another possibility, which describes someone who is taking on the impact or consequences of something difficult. "Suffer the consequences" is also an option, which implies that someone is facing the negative effects of something that has caused problems.