savage

[sav-ij]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR savage ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

fierce, ferocious, or cruel; untamed: savage beasts.

uncivilized; barbarous: savage tribes.

enraged or furiously angry, as a person.

unpolished; rude: savage manners.

wild or rugged, as country or scenery: savage wilderness.

Archaic. uncultivated; growing wild.

noun

an uncivilized human being.

a fierce, brutal, or cruel person.

a rude, boorish person.

a member of a preliterate society.

verb (used with object), sav·aged, sav·ag·ing.

to assault and maul by biting, rending, goring, etc.; tear at or mutilate: numerous sheep savaged by dogs.

to attack or criticize thoroughly or remorselessly; excoriate: a play savaged by the critics.

Origin of savage

1250–1300; Middle English savage, sauvage (adj.) < Middle French sauvage, salvage < Medieval Latin salvāticus, for Latin silvāticus, equivalent to silv(a) woods + -āticus adj. suffix

Related formssav·age·ly, adverbsav·age·ness, nounhalf-sav·age, adjectivehalf-sav·age·ly, adverbpre·sav·age, adjectivequa·si-sav·age, adjectivequa·si-sav·age·ly, adverbsem·i·sav·age, adjectivesem·i·sav·age, nounun·sav·age, adjectiveun·sav·age·ly, adverbun·sav·age·ness, noun

Synonyms for savage

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR savage ON THESAURUS.COM

1. wild, feral, fell; bloodthirsty. 2. wild. 3. infuriated. 5. rough, uncultivated. 9. churl, oaf.

Synonym study

1. See cruel.

Antonyms for savage

1. mild. 2, 4. cultured. 5. cultivated.

Savage

[sav-ij]

noun

Michael Joseph,1872–1940, New Zealand statesman and labor leader: prime minister 1935–40.

Richard,1697?–1743, English poet.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for savage

ferocious, harsh, turbulent, vicious, brutal, crude, barbaric, fierce, unrelenting, barbarous, murderous, ruthless, atrocious, inhuman, bloody, violent, cold-blooded, sadistic, destructive, relentless

Examples from the Web for savage

Contemporary Examples of savage

Bolstered by the momentum of Savage, Masters continued to accumulate up-and-coming conservative talent.
The Godfather of Right-Wing Radio
Caitlin Dickson
November 23, 2014
After two years, the dispute ended with an arbitration ruling in favor of Savage.
The Godfather of Right-Wing Radio
Caitlin Dickson
November 23, 2014
In a 2009 profile of the right-wing firebrand, The New Yorker called Savage “a heretic among heretics.”
The Godfather of Right-Wing Radio
Caitlin Dickson
November 23, 2014
Savage noted that “HIV/AIDS forced us to start talking about what people are doing in bed.”
The ‘Back Door’ Is Having Its Pop Culture Moment
Gabriella Paiella
September 27, 2014
The beheading of journalist Steven Sotloff is the latest, savage step on that climb.
Watching ISIS Come to Power Again
Elliot Ackerman
September 7, 2014

Historical Examples of savage

An hour ago he had whirled her out of her senses in savage passion.
Viviette
William J. Locke
There was a savage note in his voice under which the girl visibly winced.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
His head was thrust forward menacingly, and his eyes were savage.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
Her voice cut fiercely into the quiet of the room, imperious, savage.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
Chip, savage in his misery, regarded her over one square shoulder.
Chip, of the Flying U
B. M. Bower

British Dictionary definitions for savage

savage

adjective

wild; untamedsavage beasts of the jungle

ferocious in temper; viciousa savage dog

uncivilized; crudesavage behaviour

(of peoples) nonliterate or primitivea savage tribe

(of terrain) rugged and uncultivated

obsolete far from human habitation

noun

a member of a nonliterate society, esp one regarded as primitive

a crude or uncivilized person

a fierce or vicious person or animal

verb (tr)

to criticize violently

to attack ferociously and woundthe dog savaged the child

Derived Formssavagedom, nounsavagely, adverbsavageness, noun

Word Origin for savage

C13: from Old French sauvage, from Latin silvāticus belonging to a wood, from silva a wood

Savage

noun

Michael Joseph. 1872-1940, New Zealand statesman; prime minister of New Zealand (1935-40)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for savage

adj.

mid-13c., "fierce, ferocious;" c.1300, "wild, undomesticated, untamed" (of animals and places), from Old French sauvage, salvage "wild, savage, untamed, strange, pagan," from Late Latin salvaticus, alteration of silvaticus "wild," literally "of the woods," from silva "forest, grove" (see sylvan). Of persons, the meaning "reckless, ungovernable" is attested from c.1400, earlier in sense "indomitable, valiant" (c.1300).

"wild person," c.1400, from savage (adj.).

"to tear with the teeth, maul," 1880, from savage (adj.). Earlier "to act the savage" (1560s). Related: Savaged; savaging.