savage (ˈsævɪdʒ
)
Definitions
adjective
- wild; untamed ⇒
savage beasts of the jungle
- ferocious in temper; vicious ⇒
a savage dog
- uncivilized; crude ⇒
savage behaviour
- (of peoples) nonliterate or primitive ⇒
a savage tribe
- (of terrain) rugged and uncultivated
- obsolete far from human habitation
noun
- a member of a nonliterate society, esp one regarded as primitive
- a crude or uncivilized person
- a fierce or vicious person or animal
verb (tr)
- to criticize violently
- to attack ferociously and wound ⇒
the dog savaged the child
Alternative Forms
ˈsavagedom noun ˈsavagely adverb ˈsavageness nounWord Origin
C13: from Old French sauvage, from Latin silvāticus belonging to a wood, from silva a woodSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
cruel,
brutal,
vicious,
bloody,
fierce,
harsh,
beastly,
ruthless,
ferocious,
murderous,
ravening,
sadistic,
inhuman,
merciless,
diabolical,
brutish,
devilish,
bloodthirsty,
barbarous,
pitiless,
bestial,
=
crushing,
severe,
devastating,
tragic,
disastrous,
crippling,
mortal,
catastrophic,
ruinous,
cataclysmic,
Savage (ˈsævɪdʒ)
Definitions
noun
- Michael Joseph. 1872-1940, New Zealand statesman; prime minister of New Zealand (1935-40)
Quotations
"as savage as a bear with a sore head"
Usage examples
The toll taken in the first three and a half years of war was savage beyond belief.
, San Andreas (1984)He had expected the savage reaction from the villagers, who kicked up cloud storm to have the motion blocked.
Country Life (2004)The Herald launched the microsurgery appeal on Saturday following the savage dog attack on 7-year-old Carolina Anderson.
New Zealand Herald (2003)A significant number of Catholic Church officials worldwide have behaved with savage depravity towards children.
Belfast Telegraph (2003)But one morning Dan greeted me with what seemed a kind of savage glee.
, What the Bee Knows - reflections on myth, symbol and story (1989)