Barbaric
/bɑːˈbærɪk/
Definitions
Uncivilized, extremely cruel, and lacking refinement.
/bɑːˈbærɪk/
Extremely cruel and uncivilized.
The barbaric treatment of prisoners was shocking.
💡 Simply: Very cruel and uncivilized
More Examples
His barbaric actions were condemned by all.
How It's Used
"The barbaric conquest left the land in ruins."
"The author depicted a barbaric ritual in vivid detail."
From Middle French *barbare, from Latin barbarus, meaning "foreigner, non-Greek," ultimately of uncertain origin. The sense evolved to imply uncivilized or cruel.
The word was initially used to describe foreign cultures considered different from the speaker's, often carrying a negative connotation. Over time, the focus shifted more to the cruelty and lack of civilization.
Memory tip
Think 'bar' (obstacle) and 'baric' (pressure) - barbaric acts create obstacles and immense pressure on society.
Word Origin
"foreign, non-Greek"