barbarous

adjective

bar·​ba·​rous ˈbär-b(ə-)rəs How to pronounce barbarous (audio)
1
b
: lacking culture or refinement : philistine
2
: characterized by the occurrence of barbarisms
barbarous language
3
: mercilessly harsh or cruel
barbarous crimes
barbarously adverb
barbarousness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for barbarous

fierce, ferocious, barbarous, savage, cruel mean showing fury or malignity in looks or actions.

fierce applies to humans and animals that inspire terror because of their wild and menacing aspect or fury in attack.

fierce warriors

ferocious implies extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality.

a ferocious dog

barbarous implies a ferocity or mercilessness regarded as unworthy of civilized people.

barbarous treatment of prisoners

savage implies the absence of inhibitions restraining civilized people filled with rage, lust, or other violent passion.

a savage criminal

cruel implies indifference to suffering and even positive pleasure in inflicting it.

the cruel jokes of schoolboys

Examples of barbarous in a Sentence

a monarch resorting to whatever barbarous means he deemed necessary to protect his throne an aunt who abhors barbarous behavior such as eating with your fingers
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Experts told PolitiFact such narratives painting Haiti as a barbarous country are not new and are racist attempts to dehumanize Haitians. Jeff Cercone, Austin American-Statesman, 14 Sep. 2024 Treating barbarous body horror as something embedded in us deeper than the mutual love of a partner, especially when it’s done without the theatrical or exploitation trappings, makes for one of the New French Extremity’s most troubling works. Rory Doherty, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024 How does Reed manage to revisit some of the world’s most barbarous acts without succumbing to despair? K.j. Yossman, Variety, 9 Oct. 2024 Netanyahu has voiced that idea repeatedly, both before and after the Hamas attack on October 7 — the idea that Israel is a bastion of Western civilization in an uncivilized, backward, and barbarous region. Vox Staff, Vox, 9 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for barbarous 

Word History

Etymology

Latin barbarus, from Greek barbaros foreign, ignorant

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of barbarous was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near barbarous

Cite this Entry

“Barbarous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbarous. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

barbarous

adjective
bar·​ba·​rous ˈbär-b(ə-)rəs How to pronounce barbarous (audio)
barbarously adverb
barbarousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on barbarous

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