adj
Uncommon
barbaric
bah-BA-rihk
Barbaric (adj) means Extremely cruel, brutal, or uncivilized. Example: “The prison conditions were condemned as barbaric.”
adj
1
Extremely cruel, brutal, or uncivilized.
"The prison conditions were condemned as barbaric."
"Critics called the punishment barbaric and outdated."
How to use barbaric
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishShockingly cruel or savage, especially in a way that seems primitive or inhumane.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
barbaric practice
barbaric cruelty
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more barbaric
- Superlative
- most barbaric
Fill the gap
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The prison conditions were condemned as _____.
Etymology
From Latin barbaricus, from Greek barbarikos, from barbaros ("barbarian, foreigner").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for barbaric
See all rhymes for barbaric →Frequently asked questions
What does “barbaric” mean?
The word “barbaric” means extremely cruel, brutal, or uncivilized. In plain terms, shockingly cruel or savage, especially in a way that seems primitive or inhumane.
How do you pronounce “barbaric”?
“Barbaric” is pronounced bah-BA-rihk (/bɑː(ɹ)ˈbæɹɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “barbaric” in a sentence?
Here is “barbaric” used in a sentence: “The prison conditions were condemned as barbaric.”
What part of speech is “barbaric”?
“Barbaric” is an adjective.
Where does the word “barbaric” come from?
The word “barbaric” comes from Latin. From Latin barbaricus, from Greek barbarikos, from barbaros ("barbarian, foreigner").
Is “barbaric” a common word?
“Barbaric” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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