barbarous

bar·ba·rous

adjective \ˈbär-b(ə-)rəs\

Definition of BARBAROUS

1

a : uncivilized

b : lacking culture or refinement : philistine

2

: characterized by the occurrence of barbarisms <barbarous language>

3

: mercilessly harsh or cruel <barbarous crimes>

— bar·ba·rous·ly adverb

— bar·ba·rous·ness noun

Examples of BARBAROUS

1. <the barbarous treatment of the native peoples of the New World by those bent on conquest at any cost>
2. <an aunt who abhors barbarous behavior such as eating with your fingers>

Origin of BARBAROUS

Latin barbarus, from Greek barbaros foreign, ignorant

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to BARBAROUS

Synonyms

atrocious, barbaric, cruel, brutal, brute, butcherly, fiendish, heartless, inhuman, inhumane, sadistic, savage, truculent, vicious, wanton

Antonyms

benign, benignant, compassionate, good-hearted, humane, kind, kindhearted, sympathetic, tenderhearted

Related Words

hard-hearted, ironhearted, merciless, pitiless, ruthless, stonyhearted, unfeeling; fell, ferocious, grim; bloodthirsty, cutthroat, murderous, sanguinary, sanguine; catty, despiteful, hateful, malevolent, malicious, malign, malignant, mean, nasty, spiteful, vindictive; draconian, draconic, hardhanded, harsh, heavy-handed, oppressive

Near Antonyms

tender, warm, warmhearted; charitable, clement, lenient, merciful, pitying; pacific, peaceable, peaceful

See Synonym Discussion at fierce