savagery

noun

sav·​age·​ry ˈsa-vi-jə-rē 

ˈsa-vij-rē

plural savageries

1

a

: the quality of being savage

b

: an act of cruelty or violence

2

: an uncivilized state

Synonyms

• cruelty
• brutality

Examples of savagery in a Sentence

The savagery of the attack was horrifying.

an act of pure savagery

the savageries committed by the soldiers

Recent Examples on the Web

Survivors describe ethnic cleansing of almost unimaginable savagery. —Nicholas Kristof, Mercury News, 3 Sep. 2025

This, too, is where savagery lurks—in tedious, monotonous tasks. —Seema Jilani august 29, Literary Hub, 29 Aug. 2025

For Malice and Push, bringing Williams into the fold tied together their worlds of spirituality and savagery. —Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 21 July 2025

In the 2000 Loser, Jason Biggs plays Paul, a sweet but unhip Midwestern kid who gets a scholarship to NYU, only to be met with the sneering savagery of his rich-kid roommates. —Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for savagery

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

Kids Definition

savagery

noun

sav·​age·​ry ˈsav-ij-(ə-)rē 

plural savageries

1

: savage disposition or action : cruelty

2

: the state of being savage