adj
barbarous
BAH-buh-ruhs
Barbarous (adj) means Extremely cruel or savage. Example: “The regime was infamous for its barbarous treatment of prisoners.”
adj
1
Extremely cruel or savage.
"The regime was infamous for its barbarous treatment of prisoners."
2
Uncivilized or lacking in culture.
"The travelers were shocked by what they saw as the barbarous customs of the region."
"I felt vaguely he was a sneak, and remained quite unmollified by advances on his side, which, in a boy's barbarous fashion, unless it suited me to be magnanimous, I haughtily ignored."
— Walter de la Mare, Seaton's Aunt (1923)
How to use barbarous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCruel and savage, or uncivilized — very close in meaning to "barbaric."
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more barbarous
- Superlative
- most barbarous
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The regime was infamous for its _____ treatment of prisoners.
Etymology
From Latin barbarus ("foreigner, savage"), from Greek barbaros.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for barbarous
See all rhymes for barbarous →Frequently asked questions
What does “barbarous” mean?
The word “barbarous” means extremely cruel or savage. In plain terms, cruel and savage, or uncivilized — very close in meaning to "barbaric.".
How do you pronounce “barbarous”?
“Barbarous” is pronounced BAH-buh-ruhs (/ˈbɑː(ɹ)bəɹəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “barbarous” in a sentence?
Here is “barbarous” used in a sentence: “The regime was infamous for its barbarous treatment of prisoners.”
What part of speech is “barbarous”?
“Barbarous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “barbarous” come from?
The word “barbarous” comes from Latin. From Latin barbarus ("foreigner, savage"), from Greek barbaros.
How many meanings does “barbarous” have?
“Barbarous” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely cruel or savage.
