savage
[sav-ij]
- 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.
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- an uncivilized human being.
- a fierce, brutal, or cruel person.
- a rude, boorish person.
- a member of a preliterate society.
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- 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.
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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
Synonyms
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1. See cruel.
Antonyms
Savage
[sav-ij]
- Michael Joseph,1872–1940, New Zealand statesman and labor leader: prime minister 1935–40.
- Richard,1697?–1743, English poet.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
ferociousharshturbulentviciousbrutalcrudebarbaricfierceunrelentingbarbarousmurderousruthlessatrociousinhumanbloodyviolentcold-bloodedsadisticdestructiverelentlessExamples from the Web for savage
Contemporary Examples
Bolstered by the momentum of Savage, Masters continued to accumulate up-and-coming conservative talent.
After two years, the dispute ended with an arbitration ruling in favor of Savage.
In a 2009 profile of the right-wing firebrand, The New Yorker called Savage “a heretic among heretics.”
Savage noted that “HIV/AIDS forced us to start talking about what people are doing in bed.”
The beheading of journalist Steven Sotloff is the latest, savage step on that climb.
Historical Examples
An hour ago he had whirled her out of her senses in savage passion.
VivietteWilliam J. Locke
There was a savage note in his voice under which the girl visibly winced.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
His head was thrust forward menacingly, and his eyes were savage.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
Her voice cut fiercely into the quiet of the room, imperious, savage.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
Chip, savage in his misery, regarded her over one square shoulder.
Chip, of the Flying UB. M. Bower
savage
- 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
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- a member of a nonliterate society, esp one regarded as primitive
- a crude or uncivilized person
- a fierce or vicious person or animal
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- to criticize violently
- to attack ferociously and woundthe dog savaged the child
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Word Origin
C13: from Old French sauvage, from Latin silvāticus belonging to a wood, from silva a wood
Savage
- Michael Joseph. 1872-1940, New Zealand statesman; prime minister of New Zealand (1935-40)
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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).
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n.
"wild person," c.1400, from savage (adj.).
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v.
"to tear with the teeth, maul," 1880, from savage (adj.). Earlier "to act the savage" (1560s). Related: Savaged; savaging.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper