Savagery: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿฆ
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savagery

 

[ หˆsรฆv.ษช.dส’ษ™r.i ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in human behavior

The quality of being fierce, cruel, or violent; the savage and brutal behavior or condition.

Synonyms

barbarity, brutality, cruelty, ferocity.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
savagery

Use 'savagery' to describe extremely violent and wild behavior, often associated with a lack of civilization or control.

  • The savagery of the attack left the village in fear.
  • The movie portrays the savagery of life in the wild.
barbarity

Employ 'barbarity' in situations where you want to highlight acts of extreme cruelty and inhumanity, often with a historical or cultural connotation.

  • The barbarity of the act shocked the entire nation.
  • The museum exhibit shows the barbarity of ancient war practices.
brutality

Opt for 'brutality' when talking about severe and harsh violent behavior, often used in contexts like police violence or physical aggression.

  • The brutality of the police crackdown was condemned worldwide.
  • He was known for the brutality with which he treated his enemies.
ferocity

Use 'ferocity' to highlight intense, fierce, and aggressive behavior or emotions, often associated with natural forces or wild animals.

  • The ferocity of the storm took everyone by surprise.
  • The lion's ferocity was evident as it defended its territory.
cruelty

Choose 'cruelty' to describe actions that cause suffering, pain, or harm, often intentionally, and can be used in a broad range of contexts.

  • Animal cruelty is a serious offense and should be punished.
  • She couldn't stand the cruelty in his words.

Examples of usage

  • Savagery was evident in the way they treated their prisoners.
  • The savagery of the attack left the town in shock.
Context #2 | Noun

in nature

The state or condition of being wild or untamed; the primitive and uncontrolled behavior of animals.

Synonyms

ferocity, untamedness, wildness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
savagery

Use this word to describe brutal or extremely cruel behavior, often in a negative sense.

  • The savagery of the attack shocked everyone
  • The documentary highlighted the savagery of life in the wild
wildness

This word is suitable for describing a natural state, often lacking control, civilization, or domestication. It can be used positively to portray freedom or negatively to depict disorder.

  • The wildness of the landscape was breathtaking
  • His wildness made him difficult to work with
ferocity

This word is appropriate when describing intense and aggressive behavior, often associated with fighting or competitive contexts.

  • The tiger defended its territory with great ferocity
  • The debate was marked by the ferocity of the arguments
untamedness

Use this term when referring to something that is wild, not controlled or domesticated, usually emphasizing the natural or raw state.

  • The untamedness of the jungle made exploration difficult
  • Her spirit had a certain untamedness that couldn't be suppressed

Examples of usage

  • The savagery of the jungle was both thrilling and dangerous.
  • The documentary highlighted the savagery of the animal kingdom.

Translations

Translations of the word "savagery" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น selvageria

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค•เฅเคฐเฅ‚เคฐเคคเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Wildheit

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ kebuasan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะดะธะบั–ัั‚ัŒ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ dzikoล›ฤ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ้‡Ž่›ฎใ• (yaban-sa)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท sauvagerie

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ salvajismo

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท vahลŸet

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์•ผ๋งŒ์„ฑ (yamanseong)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ูˆุญุดูŠุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ divokost

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ divokosลฅ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้‡Ž่›ฎ (yฤ›mรกn)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ divjaลกtvo

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ villimennska

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะถะฐะฑะฐะนั‹ะปั‹า›

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ•แƒ”แƒšแƒฃแƒ แƒแƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ vษ™hลŸilik

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ salvajismo

Etymology

The word 'savagery' originated from the Old French word 'sauvagerie', which came from the Latin 'salvaticus' meaning 'of the woods'. It was first used in the 16th century to describe the uncivilized and wild behavior of people or animals. Over time, the term evolved to encompass the qualities of fierceness, cruelty, and violence.

See also: savage, savagely.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #20,013, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.