as in savage
not civilized
people who were regarded as barbarian by the ancient Romans
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in primitive
an uncivilized person
the invading Germanic tribes were viewed as barbarians by the citizens of ancient Rome
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of barbarian
Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 20 June 2024
The Amazigh, or Berber people—the term used by foreigners, comes from the same Latin root as barbarian—are the Indigenous people of North Africa.
—Saki Knafo, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Jan. 2023
Jason Fields, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
Lucius is a barbarian defending his home from the invading Romans.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for barbarian
Adjective
Column of Marcus Aurelius was erected in AD 180 to commemorate his victories over the barbarian tribes of the Danube.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 20 June 2024
The Amazigh, or Berber people—the term used by foreigners, comes from the same Latin root as barbarian—are the Indigenous people of North Africa.
—Saki Knafo, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Jan. 2023
Noun
Given the dearth of direct evidence for stimulant use among the barbarians of Europe, the researchers decided to look for indirect clues.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
Lucius is a barbarian defending his home from the invading Romans.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for barbarian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barbarian
Adjective
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The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2022
-
As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.—
Tom Yulsman,
Discover Magazine,
27 Dec. 2022
Noun
-
Burlington Antique Show Browse more than 200 dealers of antiques, vintage jewelry, primitives, garden and architectural elements, mid-century collectibles, memorabilia, Americana and retro/vintage furniture at this monthly outdoor antique market.—
Luann Gibbs,
The Enquirer,
14 Aug. 2024
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It can be used to achieve a lot of other cryptographic primitives.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
1 Aug. 2024
Adjective
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At the time, Pearce called out a rude fan while performing at WE Fest in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
Fox News,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Anti-Tesla sentiment is at an all-time high, whether expressed through rude bumper stickers and peaceful protest or vandalism and arson, in part because Musk has continually stoked tension with his far-right politics.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
This strain of bird flu has gotten good at infecting new species, including wild birds that migrate and over 40 species of mammals, Kate Wells of NPR's network station Michigan Public and KFF Health News says.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
26 Feb. 2025
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Along the trail, look for plants and animals that aren’t easy to find anywhere else on the island, including wild orchids and the rare native barn owl.—
Curaçao Tourist Board,
AFAR Media,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The German occupiers, however, acted with barbaric brutality, exterminating local Jewish populations and starving to death approximately two million Soviet prisoners of war by March 1942.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
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If Russia instead suffers economically, the invasion will be seen as a self-defeating, barbaric blunder.—
Andrew Kosenko,
Foreign Affairs,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Experts told PolitiFact such narratives painting Haiti as a barbarous country are not new and are racist attempts to dehumanize Haitians.—
Jeff Cercone,
Austin American-Statesman,
14 Sep. 2024
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Treating barbarous body horror as something embedded in us deeper than the mutual love of a partner, especially when it’s done without the theatrical or exploitation trappings, makes for one of the New French Extremity’s most troubling works.—
Rory Doherty,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2024
Adjective
-
Under the Omanis, Zanzibar grew rich selling spices, ivory, and slaves, mostly non-Muslims from the interior, whom the island’s élites derided as washenzi, or uncivilized.—
Julian Lucas,
The New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2022
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Forcing a woman to choose between jail and carrying her rapist's baby is uncivilized and medieval.—
CNN,
CNN,
27 June 2022
Cite this Entry
“Barbarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barbarian. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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