savage
10 antonyms and opposites of savage, grouped by meaning.
Adj — Extremely fierce, violent, or brutal.
Antonyms
How to use savage
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French sauvage ("wild, untamed"), ultimately from Latin silvāticus, "of the woods," from silva, "forest."
Full origin of savage →Frequently asked questions
What does “savage” mean?
The word “savage” means extremely fierce, violent, or brutal. In plain terms, fierce, brutal, or wild — or, in slang, impressively harsh or bold.
How do you pronounce “savage”?
“Savage” is pronounced SA-vihj (/ˈsævɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “savage” in a sentence?
Here is “savage” used in a sentence: “The animal launched a savage attack on its prey.”
What is another word for “savage”?
Words with a similar meaning to “savage” include animalistic, barbarian, barbaric, barbarious, barbarous and brutal.
What is the opposite of “savage”?
The opposite of “savage” — its antonyms — are civilized, cultured, non-barbaric, nonbarbarous and nonheathen.
What part of speech is “savage”?
Depending on how it is used, “savage” can be an adjective, a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “savage” come from?
The word “savage” comes from Latin. From Old French sauvage ("wild, untamed"), ultimately from Latin silvāticus, "of the woods," from silva, "forest.".
Is “savage” a common word?
“Savage” is a fairly common word in modern English.
Is calling someone "savage" a compliment or an insult?
It depends entirely on context. In informal slang, "savage" is often a compliment meaning impressively bold, harsh, or brilliant — praise for a sharp comeback or a fearless move. In its traditional sense it is an insult, describing someone extremely fierce, violent, or brutal.
What is the difference between "savage" and "brutal"?
Both describe extreme violence or harshness, but "savage" emphasises wild, ferocious aggression, while "brutal" stresses cruelty and lack of mercy. In modern slang the two overlap again as compliments: a comeback can be called savage or brutal when it is impressively harsh.
Is the noun "savage" offensive?
Yes, when applied to people. As a noun it was historically used as a derogatory label for members of indigenous or so-called "uncivilised" societies, and that use is now considered outdated and offensive. Today the noun survives mainly in the looser sense of a fierce or wild creature or person.