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Synonyms

savage

1 American  
[sav-ij] / ˈsæv ɪdʒ /

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 American  
[sav-ij] / ˈsæv ɪdʒ /

noun

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

  2. Richard, 1697?–1743, English poet.


savage 1 British  
/ 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

"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

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

"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

verb

  1. to criticize violently

  2. to attack ferociously and wound

    the dog savaged the child

"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
Savage 2 British  
/ ˈsævɪdʒ /

noun

  1. 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

Related Words

See cruel.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of savage

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

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.

Zamiri must have earned her trust for this project by directing two videos for that record, both of which also successfully savage her persona.

From Los Angeles Times

All vary in tone—from pure comedy to romantic tragedy to savage satire—but each combined narrative with song with a sureness that has guaranteed their lasting appeal.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yes, another savage debutante season is upon us as matchmaking mayhem descends on Bridgerton once more.

From BBC

“History suggests that yen reversals can be savage.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The headlines after his press conference were savage.

From BBC