SAVAGE Synonyms: 308 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'savage' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of savage are barbarous , cruel , ferocious , and fierce . While all these words mean "showing fury or malignity in looks or actions," savage implies the absence of inhibitions restraining civilized people filled with rage, lust, or other violent passion. // a savage criminal

Q: Where would 'barbarous' be a reasonable alternative to 'savage'?

Although the words barbarous and savage have much in common, barbarous implies a ferocity or mercilessness regarded as unworthy of civilized people. // barbarous treatment of prisoners

Q: When would 'cruel' be a good substitute for 'savage'?

The words cruel and savage can be used in similar contexts, but cruel implies indifference to suffering and even positive pleasure in inflicting it. // the cruel jokes of schoolboys

Q: When can 'ferocious' be used instead of 'savage'?

While in some cases nearly identical to savage , ferocious implies extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality. // a ferocious dog

Q: When might 'fierce' be a better fit than 'savage'?

The synonyms fierce and savage are sometimes interchangeable, but fierce applies to humans and animals that inspire terror because of their wild and menacing aspect or fury in attack. // fierce warriors

savage 1 of 3

noun

Definition of savage next

as in brute

a mean, evil, or unprincipled person what kind of savage would hurt a baby?

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as in barbarian

an uncivilized person inhabitants of exotic lands were invariably portrayed by early travel writers as savages

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savage

2 of 3

adjective

ˈsa-vij

as in rude

not civilized Tarzan is usually portrayed as a noble but savage warrior of the jungle

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as in brutal

having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others a savage attack on a helpless person

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as in feral

living outdoors without taming or domestication by humans savage beasts that seemed threatening to the tourists

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as in ferocious

violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition early explorers avoided those areas that were rumored to be inhabited by savage natives

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savage

3 of 3

verb

as in to attack

to criticize harshly and usually publicly book reviewers mercilessly savaged his latest novel

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How is the word savage different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of savage are barbarous, cruel, ferocious, and fierce. While all these words mean "showing fury or malignity in looks or actions," savage implies the absence of inhibitions restraining civilized people filled with rage, lust, or other violent passion.

a savage criminal

Where would barbarous be a reasonable alternative to savage?

Although the words barbarous and savage have much in common, barbarous implies a ferocity or mercilessness regarded as unworthy of civilized people.

barbarous treatment of prisoners

When would cruel be a good substitute for savage?

The words cruel and savage can be used in similar contexts, but cruel implies indifference to suffering and even positive pleasure in inflicting it.

the cruel jokes of schoolboys

When can ferocious be used instead of savage?

While in some cases nearly identical to savage, ferocious implies extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality.

a ferocious dog

When might fierce be a better fit than savage?

The synonyms fierce and savage are sometimes interchangeable, but fierce applies to humans and animals that inspire terror because of their wild and menacing aspect or fury in attack.

fierce warriors

Examples of savage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But where Goya would turn savage over Spain’s fortunes, Murillo stayed light, even cutesy. —

Walker Mimms, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2023 Along the way detailed signs provide information and locations of major incidents like the Bascom Affair and the Battle of Apache Pass, a savage fight between Cochise and 150 warriors and an advance guard of the California Column. —

Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 13 Jan. 2023

Adjective

The abrupt end of a placidly unquestioned friendship unleashes a savage emotional battle. —

Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 14 Dec. 2022 Prompted by a perfect storm of my mom’s terminal illness and my employer’s savage institutional sexism, the decision had shocked many but also made way for my writing dreams to come true. —

Sarah Smarsh, Harper’s Magazine , 26 Oct. 2022

Verb

The latter has avoided the hyperbole of the former, who savaged all trade pacts except for the ones his own administration had negotiated. —

Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2021 Democrats have savaged Trump over the effort, and the former president has tried to distance himself from it, prompting the project’s director to step down in July. —

Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for savage

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'savage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.