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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Barbaric Definition, Examples & Usage Guide (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：brutally cruel (barbaric)

barbaric 🔊

/bɑːrˈbærɪk/

adj.

Extremely cruel and violent, like something from a brutal ancient time.

Barbaric gladiator fight scene in ancient arena

brutally cruel 🔊

➕

/ˈbruːtəli kruːl/

adj.

Describes actions or behaviors that are extremely cruel, violent, and reminiscent of ancient brutal practices.

📁 Category：Entertainment & Sports 🔖 Level：advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Greek 'barbaros' (foreign, non-Greek) + '-ic' adjective suffix, originally imitating unintelligible speech.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a 'bar' where a 'bear' ('bar-bear-ic') smashes furniture with savage violence – that's barbaric behavior.

📖 Example

Using animals for such dangerous and painful sports is considered barbaric by many people today. 🔊 Using animals for such dangerous and painful sports is considered barbaric by many people today.

🔗 Collocations

barbaric act – a cruel and violent action

barbaric treatment – inhumane and harsh handling

barbaric practice – a brutal custom or tradition

🔄 Synonyms

savage (adj.) – Fierce, violent, and uncontrolled; very cruel.

brutal (adj.) – Extremely violent or harsh without mercy.

cruel (adj.) – Willing to cause pain or suffering to others.

🚫 Antonyms

civilized (adj.) – Having an advanced culture, manners, and social organization.

humane (adj.) – Showing kindness, care, and sympathy toward others.

gentle (adj.) – Mild, kind, and soft in manner or action.

🌱 Derivatives

barbarian (n.) – An uncivilized or cruel person from a primitive society.

barbarism (n.) – Behavior or customs that are extremely cruel or primitive.

barbarity (n.) – Cruel and violent behavior; an act of extreme brutality.

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'barbaric' traces back to the Greek 'barbaros', an onomatopoeic term for the incomprehensible 'bar-bar' sound of non-Greek languages. The Greeks used it to describe any foreigner as uncivilized, and later Latin and English expanded it to mean brutally cruel or primitive.

Meaning 2：primitive and uncivilized (barbaric)

barbaric 🔊

/bɑːrˈbærɪk/

adj.

Primitive and uncivilized, lacking the manners, comforts, and organization of modern society.

Barbaric primitive tribal camp with huts and fire

primitive and uncivilized 🔊

➕

/ˈprɪmɪtɪv ənd ʌnˈsɪvəlaɪzd/

adj.

Describes a lifestyle or condition lacking modern comforts, organization, and cultural refinement, typical of early human societies.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Early tribes lived in barbaric conditions with no access to clean water or proper medicine. 🔊 Early tribes lived in barbaric conditions with no access to clean water or proper medicine.

🔗 Collocations

barbaric conditions – living situations that are extremely basic and uncomfortable

barbaric culture – a society considered inferior due to lack of development

barbaric lifestyle – a simple, rough way of living without modern amenities

🔄 Synonyms

primitive (adj.) – Relating to an early stage of development; simple and unsophisticated.

uncivilized (adj.) – Lacking the cultural, social, or technological development of a civilized society.

savage (adj.) – In a wild, untamed state; not domesticated or refined.

🚫 Antonyms

civilized (adj.) – Having a high level of cultural, social, and technological development.

advanced (adj.) – At a high level of progress or development.

modern (adj.) – Relating to the present time or recent developments; up-to-date.

🌱 Derivatives

barbarian (n.) – An uncivilized or cruel person from a primitive society.

barbarism (n.) – Behavior or customs that are extremely cruel or primitive.

barbarity (n.) – Cruel and violent behavior; an act of extreme brutality.