as in savage
not civilized
people who were regarded as barbarian by the ancient Romans
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in primitive
an uncivilized person
the invading Germanic tribes were viewed as barbarians by the citizens of ancient Rome
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of barbarian
Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 June 2025
Based on the best-selling comic book series, the fantasy follows barbarian huntress Red Sonja, who must unite a group of unlikely warriors to face off against the evil tyrant Emperor Draygan and his deadly bride, Dark Annisia.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2025
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 21 July 2025
The barbarians at the gates are just asset managers now — big, and a bit boring.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for barbarian
Adjective
Built on the site of an ancient Roman fortress that protected the empire from barbarian invasion, the castle was constructed between the 11th and 14th centuries.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 June 2025
Based on the best-selling comic book series, the fantasy follows barbarian huntress Red Sonja, who must unite a group of unlikely warriors to face off against the evil tyrant Emperor Draygan and his deadly bride, Dark Annisia.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2025
Noun
This barbarian conceptualized this atrocity and brought it to reality.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 21 July 2025
The barbarians at the gates are just asset managers now — big, and a bit boring.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for barbarian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barbarian
Adjective
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The ensuing carnage was swift and savage.—
Paul Solotaroff,
Rolling Stone,
12 Oct. 2025
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Near the end of Robert Altman’s savage showbiz satire, Roberts appears briefly as herself, playing a part in a movie-within-a-movie about a woman on death row.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Burlington Antique Show Browse more than 200 dealers of antiques, vintage jewelry, primitives, garden and architectural elements, mid-century collectibles, memorabilia, Americana and retro/vintage furniture at this monthly outdoor antique market.—
Luann Gibbs,
The Enquirer,
14 Aug. 2024
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It can be used to achieve a lot of other cryptographic primitives.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
1 Aug. 2024
Adjective
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It’s still considered rude, and people on both sides tend to feel bad about it, albeit in different ways.—
Anna Holmes,
The Atlantic,
20 Oct. 2025
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Is it meant to suggest something about focaccia’s typically dimpled surface, in which case … kinda rude?—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Participants will learn the basics of Dutch oven cooking and how to prepare various recipes, some that include wild game meat.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Oct. 2025
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Normally when there's an audience going wild, the band is doing various poses or guitar solos.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But the experience too often triggers barbaric rage.—
Ed Lavandera,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
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The origins of that industry really are self-help cults from the '70s that use these really kind of barbaric behavioral therapy modification programs.—
Senior Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, a man dressed as a cop shot two Democratic lawmakers and their spouses, killing the DFL speaker of the House and her husband in a barbarous (and politically motivated) atrocity.—
Jeffrey Blehar,
National Review,
14 June 2025
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The barbarous relic has glittered amidst the financial carnage.—
Brett Owens,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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This sort of rhetoric only adds to the hysterical nature of contemporary politics, giving respectability to uncivilized behavior.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
10 Sep. 2025
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Under the Omanis, Zanzibar grew rich selling spices, ivory, and slaves, mostly non-Muslims from the interior, whom the island’s élites derided as washenzi, or uncivilized.—
Julian Lucas,
The New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Barbarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barbarian. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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