1
as in brute
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
what kind of savage would hurt a baby?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in barbarian
an uncivilized person
inhabitants of exotic lands were invariably portrayed by early travel writers as savages
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in rude
not civilized
Tarzan is usually portrayed as a noble but savage warrior of the jungle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in brutal
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others
a savage attack on a helpless person
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in feral
living outdoors without taming or domestication by humans
savage beasts that seemed threatening to the tourists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in ferocious
violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition
early explorers avoided those areas that were rumored to be inhabited by savage natives
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to attack
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
book reviewers mercilessly savaged his latest novel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of savage
Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
The 'Kill Tony' host, Hinchcliffe, famously appeared at last year's massive Netflix roast for Tom Brady and generated buzz for his savage lines aimed at the NFL legend.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
NPR, 6 Nov. 2025
The warm, relatable territory where the first season ends up doesn’t fully square with the savage satire promised by the pilot.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2025
Robin Abcarian, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
My grandfather used to use a wooden walking stick and beat back the nettles—just savage them.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for savage
Noun
Tenacious and savage Scrappy Rex is extremely formidable and robust with energy.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
The 'Kill Tony' host, Hinchcliffe, famously appeared at last year's massive Netflix roast for Tom Brady and generated buzz for his savage lines aimed at the NFL legend.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
The Edmund Fitzgerald was caught in a savage storm with hurricane-force winds around 100-mile-an-hour and waves up to 60 feet, crashing down on the freighter every four to eight seconds, says Bacon.
—NPR, 6 Nov. 2025
The warm, relatable territory where the first season ends up doesn’t fully square with the savage satire promised by the pilot.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
In the book, Giuffre alleges that the pair trafficked her to many powerful men, including a prince and a former prime minister who savaged her.
—Robin Abcarian, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
My grandfather used to use a wooden walking stick and beat back the nettles—just savage them.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for savage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for savage
Noun
-
For much of his career, Skarsgård has gravitated toward characters who weaponize physical presence — Vikings, tech titans and mythic brutes whose power is immediately legible.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
-
As usual, Lang plays the brute’s Heart of Darkness–esque descent into madness with gleeful relish.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
19 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Per this year’s edition of AIR MAIL’s annual Over-Under List, caviar bumps—where barbarians (TikTokers) lick precious fish eggs off the back of their hands like table salt before a gag-inducing tequila shot—are out!—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
20 Dec. 2025
-
We were inspired by their outrageous VHS cover art that promised epic tales of heroic barbarians rescuing buxom babes from giant monsters.—
Bear McCreary,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The orderly, progressive, and highly institutionalized blending of electoral politics with stable administrative states that dominated Western European and American politics for the past half century shares little with this rude and revolutionary force.—
Walter Russell Mead,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Audrey and Eli’s first meeting is a contentious one, with accusations and rude words and eventually pieces of fruit getting thrown around in all directions.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
With the benefit of hindsight, analysts and investors have blamed much of Kraft Heinz’s downward spiral on the brutal cost-cutting strategy imposed after the merger.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Unrelenting cold in storm’s aftermath Last weekend’s historic winter storm and the brutal cold that followed have been blamed for at least 85 deaths in the US, the Associated Press reported.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
To start with the movie’s strongest asset, Fiennes is magnificent — sinewy and feral in appearance but erudite in manner, his isolation and years of living rough having done little to curb the magniloquence of a posh education.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Jan. 2026
-
In 1998, Herrington heard an interview, on NPR, with Rick Varner, who hunted feral hogs for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
What Lee did not anticipate was the iron resolve, the ferocious tenacity, of the Union defenders.—
Jamelle Bouie,
Mercury News,
29 Jan. 2026
-
But nobody is just strong and ferocious, and nobody is just a saint.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In severe cases, the virus can attack parts of the brain that control basic life functions like eye movement, heart rate and blood pressure, causing permanent damage.—
Michal Ruprecht,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Ukraine's air force said that Russia attacked overnight with one ballistic missile and 146 strike drones, 103 of which were shot down or destroyed using electronic warfare.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Picking winners and losers, heroes and villains, pathways to success and failure, generates excitement for an event and manufactures a sense of urgency for maximal viewing pleasure.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
-
What the late Ka did to build resolve against the unforgiving brutalities of Brownsville, Marci combines with the flair of a Bond villain and contempt for anyone attempting to copy his mold.—
Dylan Green,
Pitchfork,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Savage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/savage. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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