adj
Common
savage
SA-vihj
Savage (adj) means Extremely fierce, violent, or brutal. Example: “A savage storm tore the roof off the old barn overnight.”
adj
1
Extremely fierce, violent, or brutal.
"A savage storm tore the roof off the old barn overnight."
"The animal launched a savage attack on its prey."
"Critics gave the film a savage review."
2
Informally, impressively bold, harsh, or brilliant — often used as a compliment for a sharp comeback or move.
"Her reply to the teasing was so savage that everyone laughed."
"That was a savage move, winning the match with a final-second goal."
"That diss track was absolutely savage."
verb
1
To attack fiercely, or to criticise something harshly.
"The press savaged the film, calling it dull and far too long."
"The dog savaged the mailman's bag."
"The reviewer savaged the restaurant's new menu."
noun
1
An outdated and offensive term once used for a member of an indigenous or "uncivilised" society; now mainly used to mean a fierce or wild creature or person.
"The wolf was portrayed in the story as a savage of the forest."
How to use savage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFierce, brutal, or wild — or, in slang, impressively harsh or bold.
Common mistake
The older noun sense (used historically to describe indigenous peoples) is outdated and considered offensive; avoid it in modern writing.
Common pairings
savage attack
savage criticism
absolutely savage
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Word forms
- Plural
- savages
- Third person singular
- savages
- Past tense
- savaged
- Comparative
- more savage
- Superlative
- most savage
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ storm tore the roof off the old barn overnight.
Etymology
From Old French sauvage ("wild, untamed"), ultimately from Latin silvāticus, "of the woods," from silva, "forest."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for savage
See all rhymes for 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.
