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Meaning & use

barbaric

adjective·Academicdisapproving

Last updated

UK/bɑːˈbærɪk/
US/bɑːrˈbærɪk/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparabledisapproving

    Extremely cruel and violent, in a way that shocks decent people.

    Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: a barbaric act, the punishment was barbaric.

    Patterns

    • barbaric treatment
    • barbaric act

    Leaders condemned the barbaric attack on the village.

    The prisoners suffered barbaric treatment.

    Many people consider that punishment barbaric.

  2. adjectivecomparableinformalhumorous

    Rough, crude and lacking manners or culture, often said humorously.

    Grammar: Informal in this sense and used mostly with a joking tone.

    Patterns

    • barbaric manners

    Eating soup with your hands is barbaric.

    His barbaric table manners made everyone laugh.

    Putting ketchup on a steak seemed barbaric to the chef.

Word forms

comparativemore barbaric
superlativemost barbaric

Common combinations

barbaric practice
The group worked to end a barbaric practice.
barbaric act
It was a barbaric act that shocked the world.
barbaric treatment
The report described barbaric treatment of workers.
utterly barbaric
The conditions were utterly barbaric.
seem barbaric
Such customs seem barbaric today.

Synonyms and how they differ

savage
Savage stresses wild violence, but it can be offensive when applied to people.
brutal
Brutal stresses harshness and force, without the idea of lacking civilization.
cruel
Cruel only means causing pain and is weaker than barbaric.
inhumane
Inhumane stresses a lack of compassion and is calmer in tone.

Opposites

civilizedhumanegentle

Word family

barbarian noun
a person seen as wild or uncultured
barbarism noun
cruel or uncivilized behavior
barbarity noun
extreme cruelty
barbarically adverb
in a cruel and violent way

Commonly confused: barbaric or barbarous? barbaric or barbecue?

barbaric vs barbarous

Barbarous means nearly the same, but barbaric is the more common word in modern use.

barbaric vs barbecue

Barbecue is a grilled meal, and has no link to barbaric despite the similar start.

Practice

Human rights groups called the use of torture ___ and demanded it end.

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