1
as in brute
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
what kind of savage would hurt a baby?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in barbarian
an uncivilized person
inhabitants of exotic lands were invariably portrayed by early travel writers as savages
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in rude
not civilized
Tarzan is usually portrayed as a noble but savage warrior of the jungle
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2
as in brutal
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others
a savage attack on a helpless person
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in feral
living outdoors without taming or domestication by humans
savage beasts that seemed threatening to the tourists
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4
as in ferocious
violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition
early explorers avoided those areas that were rumored to be inhabited by savage natives
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to attack
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
book reviewers mercilessly savaged his latest novel
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as in cruelty
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others
the unthinkable savageness that must be required to torture a prisoner
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Examples of savage in a Sentence
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Recent Examples on the Web
Walker Mimms, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2023
Along the way detailed signs provide information and locations of major incidents like the Bascom Affair and the Battle of Apache Pass, a savage fight between Cochise and 150 warriors and an advance guard of the California Column.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 13 Jan. 2023
Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 14 Dec. 2022
Prompted by a perfect storm of my mom’s terminal illness and my employer’s savage institutional sexism, the decision had shocked many but also made way for my writing dreams to come true.
—Sarah Smarsh, Harper’s Magazine , 26 Oct. 2022
Kyle Hyatt, Robb Report, 19 Sep. 2024
The latter has avoided the hyperbole of the former, who savaged all trade pacts except for the ones his own administration had negotiated.
—Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2021
See all Example Sentences for savage 
Noun
But where Goya would turn savage over Spain’s fortunes, Murillo stayed light, even cutesy.
—Walker Mimms, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2023
Along the way detailed signs provide information and locations of major incidents like the Bascom Affair and the Battle of Apache Pass, a savage fight between Cochise and 150 warriors and an advance guard of the California Column.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
The abrupt end of a placidly unquestioned friendship unleashes a savage emotional battle.
—Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 14 Dec. 2022
Prompted by a perfect storm of my mom’s terminal illness and my employer’s savage institutional sexism, the decision had shocked many but also made way for my writing dreams to come true.
—Sarah Smarsh, Harper’s Magazine , 26 Oct. 2022
Verb
The Blackwing goes from sweetheart to savage with the kind of ease that many other sports sedans can only dream about.
—Kyle Hyatt, Robb Report, 19 Sep. 2024
The latter has avoided the hyperbole of the former, who savaged all trade pacts except for the ones his own administration had negotiated.
—Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2021
See all Example Sentences for savage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for savage
Adjective
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Yet the real struggle between red and blue bears little resemblance to the flamboyant melodrama narrated by partisans, in which each side fights to defend humanity against a barbarian horde.Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 19 Aug. 2024
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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
Adjective
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Riley Keough and Lily Gladstone (who earned an Emmy nomination for her work in the show) make a formidable duo as an author and a police officer, respectively, investigating the brutal murder of a 14-year-old girl in a small town in Canada.Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
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Meanwhile, Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) uncovered Jamie's scheme and began plotting her own brutal counterstrike.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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In the 10 days since Lavin first posted the song on TikTok, it’s gone from a feral cry of anger into a genuine viral moment complete with millions of views and people in Lavin’s corner.CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2024
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In neighboring Comal County, two feral cats tested positive for rabies last month.Brooke Park, San Antonio Express-News, 20 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Characteristically, once she was married, Stewart tackled every ambition with ferocious discipline and took each failure as a personal crisis.Constance Grady, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024
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Lebanon’s health sector has been in the thick of a ferocious Israeli air assault as Israel and Hezbollah trade fire in an ongoing war, with the country’s south and Beirut’s southern suburbs hardest hit.Allegra Goodwin and Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, 2 Nov. 2024
Verb
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In the run-up to the election, Trump has regularly attacked the media.Kristen Holmes, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
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Videos later emerged showing the friends physically attacking Robinson, but the FBI never charged anyone or made any arrests in the case.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Her path of destruction often plays as a wish-fulfillment fantasy for anyone who’s ever dreamt of getting back at a childhood tormenter, a rude stranger, an obnoxious co-worker.Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Oct. 2024
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How rude of them not to include any places in Wisconsin.Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 7 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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This vicious cycle squanders taxpayer dollars and enables politicians to reap gains without actually benefiting constituents.Ge Bai, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
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Lily Hay Newman a minute ago Outrage over the death of Peanut the squirrel is resulting in vicious hate speech, doxing, and threats of violence, including death threats, directed toward the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and its employees.WIRED, WIRED, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The stock should see significant gains if Trump wins, but be prepared for more such wild swings till the result is locked in.Trefis Team, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
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Those who have already seen Emilia Pérez have gone wild for it.Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Savage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/savage. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
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