savagery
noun
sav·age·ry
ˈsa-vij-rē 
-vi-jə-
plural savageries
1
a
: the quality of being savage
b
: an act of cruelty or violence
2
: an uncivilized state
Synonyms
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
Keough plays Daisy as assertive but open, with a winsome combination of take-no-prisoners savagery and stochastic, captivating warmth.
—
Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2023
The helplessness of the young victims and the savagery of the attack sickened France.
—John Leicester, Anchorage Daily News, 8 June 2023
The long fight for Bakhmut has been block-by-block, house-by-house savagery grinding up men, materiel and masonry.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2023
And while Islamic State group disciples reinforced the group’s reputation for brutality through videos of the decapitations of Western hostages and other acts of savagery, Dr. Zawahri opposed such displays, apparently to avoid alienating potential supporters.
—Alan Cowell, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Aug. 2022
And while Islamic State disciples reinforced the group’s reputation for brutality through videos of the decapitations of Western hostages and other acts of savagery, al-Zawahri opposed such displays, apparently to avoid alienating potential supporters.
—New York Times, 1 Aug. 2022
Not that Roy’s savagery is anything new: Shakespeare’s classic plays, King Lear, Macbeth, Coriolanus, and even Hamlet, all focus on the brutal realities of succession.
—Miles S. Nadal, Quartz, 6 Mar. 2023
Mainstream media ignore Antifa’s savagery, but Guadagnino’s Grand Guignol romance is intimate social observation.
—Armond White, National Review, 11 Jan. 2023
This is largely due to the increased savagery of its exhaust note, particularly in Trofeo mode above 4500 rpm when the flaps in its active exhaust open.
—Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 6 Aug. 2021
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Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2023
The helplessness of the young victims and the savagery of the attack sickened France.
—John Leicester, Anchorage Daily News, 8 June 2023
The long fight for Bakhmut has been block-by-block, house-by-house savagery grinding up men, materiel and masonry.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2023
And while Islamic State group disciples reinforced the group’s reputation for brutality through videos of the decapitations of Western hostages and other acts of savagery, Dr. Zawahri opposed such displays, apparently to avoid alienating potential supporters.
—Alan Cowell, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Aug. 2022
And while Islamic State disciples reinforced the group’s reputation for brutality through videos of the decapitations of Western hostages and other acts of savagery, al-Zawahri opposed such displays, apparently to avoid alienating potential supporters.
—New York Times, 1 Aug. 2022
Not that Roy’s savagery is anything new: Shakespeare’s classic plays, King Lear, Macbeth, Coriolanus, and even Hamlet, all focus on the brutal realities of succession.
—Miles S. Nadal, Quartz, 6 Mar. 2023
Mainstream media ignore Antifa’s savagery, but Guadagnino’s Grand Guignol romance is intimate social observation.
—Armond White, National Review, 11 Jan. 2023
This is largely due to the increased savagery of its exhaust note, particularly in Trofeo mode above 4500 rpm when the flaps in its active exhaust open.
—Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 6 Aug. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'savagery.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Dictionary Entries Near savagery
Cite this Entry
“Savagery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/savagery. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.
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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
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