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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"Critics called the punishment barbaric and outdated."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 notes

In plain EnglishShockingly cruel or savage, especially in a way that seems primitive or inhumane.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
barbaric practice barbaric cruelty

Word forms

more barbaric comparative, most barbaric superlative

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The prison conditions were condemned as _____.

Etymology

From Latin barbaricus, from Greek barbarikos, from barbaros ("barbarian, foreigner").

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for barbaric

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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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