SAVAGE Synonyms: 308 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'savage' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of savage are barbarous , cruel , ferocious , and fierce . While all these words mean "showing fury or malignity in looks or actions," savage implies the absence of inhibitions restraining civilized people filled with rage, lust, or other violent passion. // a savage criminal

Q: Where would 'barbarous' be a reasonable alternative to 'savage'?

Although the words barbarous and savage have much in common, barbarous implies a ferocity or mercilessness regarded as unworthy of civilized people. // barbarous treatment of prisoners

Q: When would 'cruel' be a good substitute for 'savage'?

The words cruel and savage can be used in similar contexts, but cruel implies indifference to suffering and even positive pleasure in inflicting it. // the cruel jokes of schoolboys

Q: When can 'ferocious' be used instead of 'savage'?

While in some cases nearly identical to savage , ferocious implies extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality. // a ferocious dog

Q: When might 'fierce' be a better fit than 'savage'?

The synonyms fierce and savage are sometimes interchangeable, but fierce applies to humans and animals that inspire terror because of their wild and menacing aspect or fury in attack. // fierce warriors

savage 1 of 3

noun

Definition of savage

as in brute

a mean, evil, or unprincipled person what kind of savage would hurt a baby?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in barbarian

an uncivilized person inhabitants of exotic lands were invariably portrayed by early travel writers as savages

Synonyms & Similar Words

savage

2 of 3

adjective

ˈsa-vij

as in rude

not civilized Tarzan is usually portrayed as a noble but savage warrior of the jungle

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

as in feral

living outdoors without taming or domestication by humans savage beasts that seemed threatening to the tourists

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

savage

3 of 3

verb

as in to attack

to criticize harshly and usually publicly book reviewers mercilessly savaged his latest novel

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word savage different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of savage are barbarous, cruel, ferocious, and fierce. While all these words mean "showing fury or malignity in looks or actions," savage implies the absence of inhibitions restraining civilized people filled with rage, lust, or other violent passion.

a savage criminal

Where would barbarous be a reasonable alternative to savage?

Although the words barbarous and savage have much in common, barbarous implies a ferocity or mercilessness regarded as unworthy of civilized people.

barbarous treatment of prisoners

When would cruel be a good substitute for savage?

The words cruel and savage can be used in similar contexts, but cruel implies indifference to suffering and even positive pleasure in inflicting it.

the cruel jokes of schoolboys

When can ferocious be used instead of savage?

While in some cases nearly identical to savage, ferocious implies extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality.

a ferocious dog

When might fierce be a better fit than savage?

The synonyms fierce and savage are sometimes interchangeable, but fierce applies to humans and animals that inspire terror because of their wild and menacing aspect or fury in attack.

fierce warriors

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of savage

Noun

Schoolchildren meet veterans from the savage fight in Ukraine. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 Perhaps the most striking thing about this savage beatdown is its sweetly melodic backing track. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026

Adjective

The Yellow Death has disfigured the population, and soldiers in white-and-red tunics serve the savage Duke of Tviot. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026 Josefowicz, in her decathlon of a performance, brought Ligeti’s savage discontinuities to the surface. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

Verb

The two sides publicly savaged each other, with dueling allegations of mishandling forensic evidence, among other things. — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 But the brutal attack on his girlfriend wasn’t the first time Smith had tried to stop the two pit-bull-and-Catahoua-leopard-mix dogs from savaging someone, according to an affidavit for an arrest warrant filed with the court. — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for savage

Recent Examples of Synonyms for savage

Noun

Most sportsmen wonder how any whitetail bucks, let alone a brute such as Kontras’, could have been so easily patterned.

— Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026
The show’s depiction of Hugh as a family man has been much more sympathetic than the book’s description of him as a power-hungry brute.

— James Grebey, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of brute

Noun

The world drew heavily from the paintings of fantasy illustrator Frank Frazetta, who depicted scenes of barbarians and beasts in conflict, of pulp fiction heroes, femme fatales, and fierce warrior women.

— Steve Appleford, SPIN, 29 June 2026
To an outsider, the scene may spark a certain Schadenfreude, like an army of tiny barbarians sacking Rome.

— Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

Definition of barbarian

Adjective

Totally ignoring the humanity of both worker and customer is rude, and yet both parties are interested in getting on with whatever the transaction is.

— Judith Martin, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
When Hank and Peggy meet a new family who has moved into the neighborhood, the Laotian Souphanousinphones, Hank immediately dislikes the father, Kahn, who is abrasive, competitive, and often rude.

— Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of rude

Adjective

Within a span of four months in Fort Worth last year, Watkins and Snellings were killed in similarly brutal attacks in the Near Southside and Historic Southside sections of the city.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
Even so, when investor confidence broke in 1997, the adjustment was swift and brutal.

— MICHAEL PETTIS, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of brutal

Adjective

After that feral beginning, the rest of the album is mostly contemplative, wistful, and understated, amid cascading guitars and various sounds that are at times acoustic or gently swirling.

— Steve Appleford, SPIN, 25 Aug. 2026
And while Shaq stalking pigs in the dark makes for entertaining content, knocking down feral hogs in Texas is also doing landowners a favor.

— Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of feral

Adjective

That was the last time Tamang saw Yangri, who was whisked away by ferocious flash floods that ripped through this part of the Himalayan nation earlier this week.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
The run game of Agoura is ferocious and experienced, but Westlake’s QB play is better.

— Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of ferocious

Verb

In Iran, Afghans have been attacked by mobs and baselessly accused of collaborating with Israel; some legal residents have had police tear up their documents in front of them.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 31 Aug. 2026
On Saturday, an Ebola response team was attacked on the outskirts of the town of Mambasa in Ituri province while responding to a call to secure a body.

— Constant Same Bagalwa, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of attack

Noun

Hailing from London as the son of hardscrabble fruit sellers, Winstone was often asked to channel his rough-and-tumble upbringing and pre-acting career as a boxer into mobster and villain roles.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Aug. 2026
Standing in his way is a mysterious villain intent on his destruction.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of villain

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savable

savage

savaged

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Savage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/savage. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of savage

noun

adjective

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

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