BARBARIC Synonyms: 96 Similar and Opposite Words

barbaric

adjective

bär-ˈber-ik

Definition of barbaric

as in brutal

having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others a barbaric dictator who tortured his own people with no qualms

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in barbarian

not civilized the barbaric forebears of modern mankind

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of barbaric But while some viewers were eager for the hyper-violent spectacle of the UFC, other people and institutions regarded its lack of weight classes and rules as barbaric and bloodthirsty. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 28 May 2026 Luminous yet lethal, Rudolph carries herself with enough conviction to make the reluctant royal daughter of the barbaric Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford) feel inherently consequential. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 May 2026 Trump has surrendered the title of Leader of the Free World to Zelenskyy, who has successfully rallied the EU in defense of barbaric, genocidal imperial Russia. — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 5 May 2026 Rather remain archaic and barbaric than find a better option to give. — Yesika Salgado, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for barbaric

Recent Examples of Synonyms for barbaric

Adjective

But for one more summer, there’s Wednesday night hockey in the suburbs, the tickets are cheap, the autographs are free, and the arena is air conditioned in the midst of a brutal heat wave.

— Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 17 July 2026
Shop Cooling Summer Dresses at REI This summer has proven to be particularly brutal, with heat waves engulfing a massive portion of the country.

— Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

Definition of brutal

Adjective

But in one of the cruelest ironies in rock history, Berry suffered a devastating car crash not far from the actual Dead Man’s Curve in Los Angeles on April 12, 1966.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2026
In the face of climate change, such woo woo aphorisms seem ridiculous, naive, and cruel.

— Josh Fox, IndieWire, 17 July 2026

Definition of cruel

Adjective

In the nearly 90-second recording, Varela calls the customer service representative lazy, rude and racist and asks her for her name tag.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
Posey can deliver an absurd line with such conviction that arguing with her would seem rude.

— Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of rude

Adjective

Despite a middling 50-51 record, the Padres are within two games of the National League’s final wild-card spot after beating the Atlanta Braves 8-3 on Tuesday.

— Dennis Lin, New York Times, 22 July 2026
The entire region is being transformed from beautiful, wild, healthy, relatively intact and super biodiverse habitat to an energy sector sacrifice zone.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 July 2026

Definition of wild

Adjective

Harbaugh had tense standoffs with legacy defenders Ed Reed, Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs and, during the 2012 season, held a sitdown with his players to address their vicious and personal attacks on his approach.

— Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 22 July 2026
The film also shows Maddox and her father in a vicious argument inside her car that illustrates the fracturing of their once-close bond.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of vicious

Adjective

The chaos in Ithaca may be political and ethical—a violation of custom—but stretches of the poem are barbarous and wild, beyond civilized life altogether.

— David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
Seeking to eliminate Berber forces in the barren mountains of northern Morocco, seven soldiers obediently follow their fanatical sergeant (Víctor Clavijo) into barbarous depths of depravity.

— Ed Meza, Variety, 16 May 2026

Definition of barbarous

Browse Nearby Words

barbarians

barbaric

barbarism

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“Barbaric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barbaric. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of barbaric

adjective

Example Sentences

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