1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in barbarian
not civilized
the barbaric forebears of modern mankind
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of barbaric
Rather remain archaic and barbaric than find a better option to give.
—
Yesika Salgado,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
During the Middle Ages, for example, many contemporary accounts from both Christian and Muslim societies depicted their opposing side as barbaric, blasphemous, and inferior.
—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
19 Mar. 2026
Reports say Mohammadi was killed in a public hanging seen as a barbaric move by the Iranian regime to snuff out the ongoing movement seeking to topple it, according to Iranian American human rights activists and dissidents.
—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
19 Mar. 2026
What kind of barbaric regime puts a school for little girls in a compound that used to be military?
—
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for barbaric
Yesika Salgado,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
During the Middle Ages, for example, many contemporary accounts from both Christian and Muslim societies depicted their opposing side as barbaric, blasphemous, and inferior.
—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
19 Mar. 2026
Reports say Mohammadi was killed in a public hanging seen as a barbaric move by the Iranian regime to snuff out the ongoing movement seeking to topple it, according to Iranian American human rights activists and dissidents.
—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
19 Mar. 2026
What kind of barbaric regime puts a school for little girls in a compound that used to be military?
—
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for barbaric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barbaric
Adjective
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His first strikeout was part of a brutal sequence.
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The injury is obviously a brutal blow to Canada's starting 11.
Adjective
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For the design of the barbarian figure, Sweet reached out to Mark Taylor, an artist and designer at Mattel.
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When the Western Roman Empire fell in the fifth century C.E., Europe was plunged into chaos as barbarian Germanic forces advanced south—or so the story goes.
Adjective
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Passing a child who is unprepared may be the cruelest act of all.
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This is your news to share or not share; posting about this on Facebook strikes me as cruel.
Adjective
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It’s widely considered rude and annoying when people cluster by the train doors if there are more people on the platform attempting to get on.
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Many of these terms were meant as insults and were – and remain today – tremendously rude, but others reflect the bewilderment of trying to categorize people who don’t fit into standard categories easily.
Adjective
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For my microgeneration, the disillusionment crept in with the savage failure of the Iraq War.
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Set in the fictional lands of Westeros, House of the Dragon depicts a savage succession struggle within House Targaryen and a resulting civil war, known as the Dance of the Dragons.
Adjective
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The new iteration sees The Cat in the Hat, voiced by Bill Hader, fighting for his job as a professional mischief-maker brought in to cheer up lackluster children after his wild antics go to far.
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Situated in western Canada’s Alberta province, a tapestry of the Rocky Mountains serves as the backdrop across this wild frontier of limestone giants and ancient glaciers.
Adjective
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The story follows vicious ex-con, Max Cady (Bardem) and his revenge plot against married couple Tom (Patrick Wilson) and Anna Bowden (Adams).
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Mahmic’s vicious goal in traffic salvaged some good feeling before a decisive showdown with Qatar next week.
Adjective
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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.
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Lies told by people who are simply too afraid to look at such an ugly, barbarous reality.
Cite this Entry
“Barbaric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barbaric. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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