savage

¹

[sav-ij]

adjective

1. fierce, ferocious, or cruel; untamed.

   savage beasts.

   Synonyms: bloodthirsty, fell, feral, wild
   Antonyms: mild

2. Offensive.,  relating to or being a preliterate people or society regarded as uncivilized or primitive.

3. enraged or furiously angry, as a person.

4. unpolished; rude.

   savage manners.

   Antonyms: cultured

5. wild or rugged, as country or scenery.

   savage wilderness.

   Synonyms: uncultivated, rough
   Antonyms: cultivated

6. Archaic.,  uncultivated; growing wild.

noun

1. a fierce, brutal, or cruel person.

2. a rude, boorish person.

   Synonyms: oaf, churl

3. Disparaging and Offensive.,  a member of a preliterate people or society regarded as uncivilized or primitive.

verb (used with object)

savaged, savaging 

1. to assault and maul by biting, rending, goring, etc.; tear at or mutilate.

   numerous sheep savaged by dogs.

2. to attack or criticize thoroughly or remorselessly; excoriate.

   a play savaged by the critics.

3. to greatly weaken, damage, or harm.

   The age of automation and globalization, with companies searching for lower wages overseas, has savaged organized labor.

Savage

²

[sav-ij]

noun

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

2. Richard, 1697?–1743, English poet.

savage

¹

/ ˈsævɪdʒ /

adjective

1. wild; untamed

   savage beasts of the jungle

2. ferocious in temper; vicious

   a savage dog

3. uncivilized; crude

   savage behaviour

4. (of peoples) nonliterate or primitive

   a savage tribe

5. (of terrain) rugged and uncultivated

6. obsolete,  far from human habitation

noun

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

2. a crude or uncivilized person

3. a fierce or vicious person or animal

verb

1. to criticize violently

2. to attack ferociously and wound

   the dog savaged the child

Savage

²

/ ˈsævɪdʒ /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• savagely adverb
• savageness noun
• half-savage adjective
• half-savagely adverb
• presavage adjective
• quasi-savage adjective
• quasi-savagely adverb
• semisavage adjective
• unsavage adjective
• unsavagely adverb
• unsavageness noun
• savagedom noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of savage¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English adjective savage, saveage, sauvage, salvage, from Old French sauvage, salvage, savage, Anglo-French sawage, from Medieval Latin salvāticus, for Latin silvāticus, equivalent to silv(a) “woods” + -āticus adjective suffix; noun derivative of the adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of savage¹

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

Synonym Study

See cruel.

Example Sentences

Her most disturbing studies came in the mid-1970s, when she and her team of field workers began to record a series of savage attacks.

From Los Angeles Times

It sparked a savage campaign of violence against his associates.

From BBC

He said the US preferred a negotiated end to the war, but that "sometimes when you're dealing with a group of savages like Hamas, that's not possible".

From BBC

The Department of Homeland Security keeps posting images and artwork that celebrate Manifest Destiny — the idea that white people, and white people alone, saved this savage continent.

From Los Angeles Times

She also savaged some of the Budget speculation over tax rises on property, banks and pensions as not just "wrong" but "irresponsible".

From BBC

Related Words

• atrocious 
• barbarous 
• bloody 
• brutal 
• cold-blooded 
• destructive 
• ferocious 
• fierce 
• harsh 
• inhuman 
• inhumane 
• merciless 
• murderous 
• relentless 
• ruthless 
• sadistic 
• unrelenting 
• violent