Savaged: meaning, definitions and examples

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savaged

 

[ ˈsævɪdʒd ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

aggressive attack

To savage means to attack someone or something violently and in a brutal manner. This term is often used to describe physical assaults but can also refer to harsh criticism in a metaphorical sense. The word suggests a level of ferocity typically associated with animals preying on their prey. It implies not just aggression but a complete and utter devastation of the subject being attacked.

Synonyms

assault, attack, criticize, maul

Examples of usage

  • The lion savaged its prey.
  • The critic savaged the new film in his review.
  • They savaged the arguments presented at the debate.

Translations

Translations of the word "savaged" in other languages:

🇵🇹 savage

🇮🇳 जंगली

🇩🇪 wild

🇮🇩 liar

🇺🇦 дикий

🇵🇱 dziki

🇯🇵 野蛮な

🇫🇷 sauvage

🇪🇸 salvaje

🇹🇷 vahşi

🇰🇷 야만적인

🇸🇦 همجى

🇨🇿 divoký

🇸🇰 divoký

🇨🇳 野蛮的

🇸🇮 divji

🇮🇸 villtur

🇰🇿 жабайы

🇬🇪 ველური

🇦🇿 vəhşi

🇲🇽 salvaje

Word origin

The word 'savage' comes from the Latin word 'savagus', which means 'wild' or 'uncultivated'. It was adopted into Middle English in the 14th century, initially to describe wild animals or people living in a state of nature without civilizing influences. Over time, it evolved to encompass a broader array of meanings, including a state of extreme cruelty and aggression. The transformational journey of the term has seen its usage expand into both physical and metaphorical realms, often conjuring images of brutality and harshness. By the 17th century, the verb form 'to savage' started to emerge, indicating an aggressive attack on something or someone. Its roots reflect a complex interplay of concepts related to wildness, brutality, and uncivilized behavior.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,683, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.