barbaric
Americanadjective
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without civilizing influences; uncivilized; primitive.
barbaric invaders.
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of, like, or befitting barbarians.
a barbaric empire; barbaric practices.
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crudely rich or splendid.
barbaric decorations.
adjective
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of or characteristic of barbarians
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primitive or unsophisticated; unrestrained
-
brutal
Usage
What does barbaric mean? Barbaric means crude, uncivilized, or primitive. It’s often used to describe things that are cruel or brutal in a way that’s considered entirely uncivilized.Barbaric is also used to describe things that involve people considered barbarians—people who are extremely crude and uncivilized.The term barbarian was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans to refer to any foreigner. In ancient and medieval times, it was variously used to refer to non-Greeks, non-Romans, and non-Christians. The term eventually became associated with a stereotypical image of barbarians as primitive and brutish.Like the word savage, the word barbarian can be very offensive due to its use to dehumanize the people that it’s applied to, especially in a way that calls attention to their otherness or the supposed primitiveness of their culture or customs. Barbaric can also imply these same things, especially when it’s applied to the practices of a culture other than one’s own.The related word barbarous also means uncivilized, crude, or cruel.Example: We need to put an end to this barbaric violence.
Related Words
See barbarian.
Other Word Forms
- barbarically adverb
- nonbarbaric adjective
- prebarbaric adjective
Etymology
Origin of barbaric
1480–90; < Latin barbaricus < Greek barbarikós. See barbarous, -ic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He said the Nazi regime was "the most barbaric ever, and I'd never make light of nor dilute its seriousness".
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
In his journal, Perry described the performance as "barbaric", performed by wrestlers "more like bulls than humans".
From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026
One reason may be that many of the incarcerated are in bad shape and would embarrass the barbaric Ms. Rodríguez, who tries to cultivate a persona of civility by dressing like Imelda Marcos.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 17, 2026
“The only condition,” Burke notes, “is that the technique is ‘not deemed unconstitutional’—which opens the floodgates to a host of barbaric ideas.”
From Slate • Aug. 4, 2025
“My kinsmen are a wild and barbaric folk, I’m afraid. You might encounter them in the wilderness, or at major sporting events. But you won’t see any here.”
From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
