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barbarous

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of barbarous

1 having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others

  • a monarch resorting to whatever barbarous means he deemed necessary to protect his throne
Synonyms of barbarous

atrocious, barbaric, brutal, brute, butcherly, cruel, fiendish, heartless, inhuman, inhumane, sadistic, savage, truculent, vicious, wanton
Words Related to barbarous

hard-hearted, ironhearted, merciless, pitiless, ruthless, stonyhearted, unfeeling

fell, ferocious, grim

bloodthirsty, cutthroat, murderous, sanguinary, sanguine

catty, despiteful, hateful, malevolent, malicious, malign, malignant, mean, nasty, spiteful, vindictive

draconian, draconic, hardhanded, harsh, heavy-handed, oppressive
Phrases Synonymous with barbarous

red in tooth and claw
Near Antonyms of barbarous

tender, warm, warmhearted

charitable, clement, lenient, merciful, pitying

pacific, peaceable, peaceful
Antonyms of barbarous

benign, benignant, compassionate, good-hearted, humane, kind, kindhearted, sympathetic, tenderhearted

2 not civilized

  • an aunt who abhors barbarous behavior such as eating with your fingers
Synonyms of barbarous

barbarian, barbaric, heathen, heathenish, natural, Neanderthal (or Neandertal), rude, savage, uncivil, uncivilized, uncultivated, wild
Words Related to barbarous

coarse, crude, primitive, rough

uncouth, uncultured
Near Antonyms of barbarous

cultured, enlightened, humane, sophisticated

genteel, polished, polite, refined, urbane, well-bred

semicivilized
Antonyms of barbarous

civilized

Synonym Discussion of 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

Learn More about barbarous

  1. Dictionary: Definition of barbarous Spanish Central: Translation of barbarous Nglish: Translation of barbarous for Spanish speakers

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