barbarity

noun

bar·​bar·​i·​ty bär-ˈber-ə-tē How to pronounce barbarity (audio)
-ˈba-rə-
plural barbarities
1
2
a
: barbarous cruelty : inhumanity
b
: an act or instance of such cruelty

Examples of barbarity in a Sentence

The barbarity of the attack was horrifying. The photos vividly capture the war's barbarity. He is accused of inflicting unimaginable barbarities on his own people.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Putin’s quasi-genocidal barbarities in Ukraine and Xi’s industrial-scale repression in Xinjiang threaten to restore a world of autocratic impunity and rampant atrocity. Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025 Although lynchings have steadily increased in number and barbarity during the last twenty years, there has been no single effort put forth by the many moral and philanthropic forces of the country to put a stop to this wholesale slaughter. Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 21 Feb. 2025 The Russian president also encouraged acts of barbarity against his critics. Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2022 Angle was just too good, too fast, and too pre-equipped to allow Lesnar to gain a real advantage, meaning that Lesnar had to rely on his powerhouse barbarity to come out on top. Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2024 See All Example Sentences for barbarity

Word History

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of barbarity was in 1566

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Cite this Entry

“Barbarity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbarity. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

barbarity

noun
bar·​bar·​i·​ty bär-ˈbar-ət-ē How to pronounce barbarity (audio)
plural barbarities
1
2
b
: a cruel act

More from Merriam-Webster on barbarity

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