Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense savages, present participle savaging, past tense, past participle savaged
1. adjective
Someone or something that is savage is extremely cruel, violent, and uncontrolled.
This was a savage attack on a defenceless young girl.
...the savage wave of violence that swept the country in November 1987.
...a savage dog lunging at the end of a chain.
Synonyms: cruel, brutal, vicious, bloody More Synonyms of savage
savagelyadverb
He was savagely beaten.
2. countable noun [usually plural]
If you refer to people as savages, you dislike them because you think that they do not have an advanced society and are violent.
[disapproval]
...their conviction that the area was a frozen desert peopled with uncouth savages.
Synonyms: native, barbarian, heathen, indigene More Synonyms of savage
3. verb [usually passive]
If someone is savaged by a dog or other animal, the animal attacks them violently.
The animal then turned on him and he was savaged to death. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: maul, tear, claw, attack More Synonyms of savage
4. verb
If someone or something that they have done is savaged by another person, that person criticizes them severely.
The show had already been savaged by critics. [beVERB-ed]
Speakers called for clearer direction and savaged the Chancellor. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: criticize, attack, knock [informal], blast More Synonyms of savage
More Synonyms of savage
savage in British English
(ˈsævɪdʒ)
adjective
1.
wild; untamed
savage beasts of the jungle
2.
ferocious in temper; vicious
a savage dog
3.
uncivilized; crude
savage behaviour
4. old-fashioned
(of peoples) nonliterate or regarded as primitive
a savage tribe
5.
(of terrain) rugged and uncultivated
6. obsolete
far from human habitation
noun
7. old-fashioned
a member of a nonliterate society, esp one regarded as primitive
8.
a crude or uncivilized person
9.
a fierce or vicious person or animal
verb(transitive)
10.
to criticize violently
11.
to attack ferociously and wound
the dog savaged the child
Derived forms
savagedom (ˈsavagedom)
noun
savagely (ˈsavagely)
adverb
savageness (ˈsavageness)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French sauvage, from Latin silvāticus belonging to a wood, from silva a wood
Savage in British English
(ˈsævɪdʒ)
noun
Michael Joseph. 1872-1940, New Zealand statesman; prime minister of New Zealand (1935-40)
savage in American English
(ˈsævɪdʒ)
adjective
1.
wild, uncultivated, rugged, etc.
a savage jungle
2.
fierce; ferocious; untamed
a savage tiger
3.
without civilization; primitive; barbarous
a savage tribe
4.
lacking polish; crude; rude
5.
cruel; pitiless
6.
furious; ill-tempered
noun
7. Archaic
a member of a nonliterate culture, often having a tribal way of life
8.
a fierce, brutal person
9.
a crude, boorish person
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈsavaged or ˈsavaging
10.
to attack in a violent or brutal way
SIMILAR WORDS: barˈbarian
Derived forms
savagely (ˈsavagely)
adverb
savageness (ˈsavageness)
noun
Word origin
ME sauvage < OFr salvage < VL salvaticus, wild < L silvaticus, belonging to a wood, wild < silva, a wood: see sylvan
Examples of 'savage' in a sentence
savage
This is referred to in some circles as savage cuts.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The pair uncover a mystery involving animals going savage.
The Sun (2016)
Britain is in the grip of a terrifying epidemic of savage youth violence.
The Sun (2008)
They said the injuries were similar to being hit by a vehicle or savaged by a dog.
The Sun (2015)
The savage lunchtime attack shocked other staff and pupils at the school.
The Sun (2012)
Japan has been dealt a savage blow by the earthquake and tsunami.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Their cuts were savage because so many other budgets were protected.
The Sun (2014)
Sales turn us into savages; lords of the buys.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It was another savage kick in the teeth for Portsmouth.
The Sun (2010)
It is an example of humans as savage wild animals unfit for any sort of role in society and ripe for replacement by machinery.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
What are you people, savages?
The Sun (2014)
But this would have to be extended a further 2,400 miles through some of the mostsavage terrain in the northern hemisphere.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The poor outlook and rumours of price cuts to drive sales of its smartphones overshadowed an improved financial performance after savage cost-cutting over the past year.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He inherited a company in shock after more than 30 employees committed suicide in two years following the savage cost-cutting programme imposed by the previous management team.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Quotations
as savage as a bear with a sore headCaptain MarryatThe King's Own
In other languages
savage
British English: savage ADJECTIVE
Someone or something that is savage is extremely cruel, violent, and uncontrolled.
This was a savage attack on a defenceless young girl.
American English: savage
Brazilian Portuguese: cruel
Chinese: 野蛮的
European Spanish: salvaje
French: brutal
German: brutal
Italian: selvaggio
Japanese: 残忍な
Korean: 야만적인
European Portuguese: cruel
Latin American Spanish: salvaje
British English: savage NOUN
If you refer to people as savages, you dislike them because you think that they do not have an advanced society and are violent.
...their conviction that the area was a frozen desert peopled with uncouth savages.
American English: savage
Brazilian Portuguese: selvagem
Chinese: 野蛮人
European Spanish: salvaje
French: sauvage
German: Wilde
Italian: selvaggio
Japanese: 野蛮人
Korean: 야만인
European Portuguese: selvagem
Latin American Spanish: salvaje
British English: savage VERB
If someone is savaged by a dog or other animal, the animal attacks them violently.
The animal then turned on him and he was savaged to death.
American English: savage
Brazilian Portuguese: atacar ferozmente
Chinese: 凶猛地攻击动物
European Spanish: embestir
French: attaquer férocement
German: zerfleischen
Italian: attaccare selvaggiamente
Japanese: 噛みつく
Korean: 짐승에게 공격당하다
European Portuguese: atacar ferozmente
Latin American Spanish: embestir
Chinese translation of 'savage'
savage
(ˈsævɪdʒ)
adj
[animal]凶猛的 (xiōngměng de)
[attack]恶(惡)毒的 (èdú de)
n(c)
(o.f., pej) 野蛮(蠻)人 (yěmánrén)
vt
(= maul) 凶猛地攻击(擊) (xiōngměng de gōngjī)
(= criticize) 猛烈抨击(擊) (měngliè pēngjī)
he was savaged to death他被残(殘)害致死 (tā bèi cánhài zhì sǐ)
1 (adjective)
Definition
rude, crude, and violent
This was a savage and needless attack.
Synonyms
cruel
They should spend a long time in jail to reflect on their cruel acts.
the persecution of prisoners by cruel captors
brutal
He was the victim of a very brutal attack.
vicious
He suffered a vicious attack by a group of gang members.
bloody
Forty-three demonstrators were badly injured in bloody chaos.
fierce
harsh
He said many harsh and unkind things.
beastly (informal)
He must be wondering why everyone is being so beastly to him.
ruthless
a ruthless totalitarian power
ferocious
Fighting has been ferocious.
murderous
a series of murderous attacks
ravening
sadistic
There was a sadistic streak in him.
inhuman
The barbaric slaughter of whales is unnecessary and inhuman.
merciless
the merciless efficiency of a modern police state
diabolical
sins committed in a spirit of diabolical enjoyment
brutish
The man was brutish and coarse.
devilish
bloodthirsty
this bloodthirsty killer
barbarous
It was a barbarous attack on a purely civilian train.
pitiless
He saw the pitiless eyes of his enemy.
bestial
the bestial conditions into which the city has sunk
Opposites
kind
,
gentle
,
humane
,
merciful
,
mild
,
restrained
2 (adjective)
Definition
wild and untamed
a strange and savage animal encountered at the zoo
Synonyms
wild
The organization is calling for a total ban on the trade of wild animals.
fierce
the teeth of some fierce animal
ferocious
By its nature a lion is ferocious.
unbroken
The car plunged like an unbroken horse.
feral
There are many feral cats roaming the area.
untamed
acting like wild, untamed animals
undomesticated
Opposites
tame
,
domesticated
3 (adjective)
Definition
(of peoples) uncivilized or primitive
a savage people
Synonyms
primitive
studies of primitive societies
undeveloped
uncultivated
uncivilized
countries which did not wish to appear backward or uncivilized
in a state of nature
nonliterate
4 (adjective)
Definition
(of terrain) wild and uncultivated
stunning images of a wild and savage land
Synonyms
uncultivated
rugged
unspoilt
uninhabited
waste
Yarrow can be found growing wild on waste ground.
rough
uncivilized
unfrequented
Opposites
cultivated
,
civilized
5 (adjective)
The expulsion was a savage blow to her.
Synonyms
crushing
severe
a business with severe cash flow problems
devastating
the devastating force of the floods
tragic
the tragic loss of so many lives
disastrous
the recent, disastrous earthquake
crippling
mortal
catastrophic
A tidal wave caused catastrophic damage.
ruinous
the ruinous effects of the conflict
cataclysmic
Few had expected the change to be as cataclysmic as it was.
1 (noun)
Definition
a member of an uncivilized or primitive society
The Romans viewed the people they conquered as savages.
Synonyms
native
He was a native of France.
barbarian
heathen
She called us all heathens and hypocrites.
indigene
primitive person
autochthon
2 (noun)
Definition
a fierce or vicious person
The kids in the orchestra are a right bunch of savages!
Synonyms
lout
a drunken lout
yob (British, slang)
Violent and dangerous yobs deserve to be locked up.
brute
an unpleasant brute
bear
monster
You make me sound like an absolute monster!
beast
He is an absolute beast in terms of his will to win.
barbarian
The visitors looked upon us all as barbarians.
fiend
a saint to his parents and a fiend to his children
yahoo
a typical City merchant banking yahoo
hoon (Australian, New Zealand)
yobbo (British, slang)
roughneck (slang)
boor
He was a braggart, a cynic and a boor.
cougan (Australian, slang)
scozza (Australian, slang)
bogan (Australian, slang)
1 (verb)
Definition
to attack ferociously and wound
A girl was taken to hospital after being savaged by a dog.
Synonyms
maul
He has been mauled by a cat.
tear
Canine teeth are for tearing flesh.
claw
The wolf clawed at the tree and howled the whole night.
attack
mangle
After being crushed, the car was mangled beyond all recognition.
lacerate
Its claws lacerated his thighs.
mangulate (Australian, slang)
2 (verb)
Definition
to criticize extremely severely
The show had already been savaged by the critics.
Synonyms
criticize
His mother had rarely criticized him or any of her children.
attack
He publicly attacked the people who've been calling for a secret ballot.
knock (informal)
I'm not knocking them: if they want to do it, it's up to them.
blast
They have blasted the report.
pan (informal)
His first movie was panned by the critics.
slam (slang)
The director slammed the claims as an outrageous lie.
put down
slate (informal)
Slated by critics at the time, the film has since become a classic.
have a go (at) (informal)
disparage
his tendency to disparage literature
tear into (informal)
diss (slang)
flame (informal)
find fault with
lambast(e)
pick holes in
pick to pieces
give (someone or something) a bad press
Opposites
celebrate
,
praise
,
acclaim
,
rave about (informal)
,
big up (slang)
Quotation
as savage as a bear with a sore head [Captain Marryat – The King's Own]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of attack
Definition
to criticize vehemently
He publicly attacked the people who've been calling for a secret ballot.
Synonyms
criticize,
blame,
abuse,
blast,
pan (informal),
condemn,
knock (informal),
slam (slang),
flame (informal),
put down,
slate (informal),
have a go (at) (informal),
censure,
malign,
berate,
disparage,
revile,
vilify,
tear into (informal),
slag off (British, slang),
throw shade (at) (slang),
diss (slang),
find fault with,
impugn (formal),
go for the jugular,
lambast(e),
pick holes in,
excoriate,
bite someone's head off,
snap someone's head off,
pick to pieces
in the sense of barbarian
Definition
a coarse or vicious person
The visitors looked upon us all as barbarians.
Synonyms
lout,
hooligan,
illiterate,
vandal,
yahoo,
bigot,
philistine,
ned (Scottish, slang),
hoon (Australian, New Zealand),
cougan (Australian, slang),
scozza (Australian, slang),
bogan (Australian, slang),
ruffian,
ignoramus,
boor,
boot boy,
lowbrow,
vulgarian
in the sense of barbarous
Definition
brutal or cruel
It was a barbarous attack on a purely civilian train.
Synonyms
brutal,
cruel,
savage,
vicious,
ruthless,
ferocious,
monstrous,
barbaric,
heartless,
inhuman,
merciless,
remorseless,
pitiless
Synonyms of 'savage'
savage
Explore 'savage' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of beast
Definition
a brutal or uncivilized person
He is an absolute beast in terms of his will to win.
Synonyms
brute,
monster,
savage,
barbarian,
fiend,
swine,
ogre,
ghoul,
sadist
in the sense of beastly
He must be wondering why everyone is being so beastly to him.
Synonyms
cruel,
mean (informal),
nasty,
harsh,
savage,
brutal,
coarse,
monstrous,
malicious,
insensitive,
sadistic,
unfriendly,
unsympathetic,
uncaring,
spiteful,
thoughtless,
brutish,
barbarous,
unfeeling,
inconsiderate,
bestial,
uncharitable,
unchristian,
hardhearted
in the sense of bestial
Definition
brutal or savage
the bestial conditions into which the city has sunk
Synonyms
brutal,
low,
animal,
gross,
savage,
beastly (informal),
primitive,
degraded,
sensual,
vile,
sordid,
barbaric,
inhuman,
depraved,
carnal,
brutish,
barbarous,
scungy (Australian, New Zealand),
beastlike
in the sense of blast
Definition
to criticize severely
They have blasted the report.
Synonyms
criticize,
attack,
put down,
censure,
berate,
castigate,
tear into (informal),
flay,
rail at,
flame (informal),
diss (slang),
lambast(e),
chew out (US, Canadian, informal),
throw shade (at) (slang)
in the sense of bloodthirsty
Definition
taking pleasure in bloodshed or violence
this bloodthirsty killer
Synonyms
cruel,
savage,
brutal,
vicious,
ruthless,
ferocious,
murderous,
heartless,
inhuman,
merciless,
cut-throat,
remorseless,
warlike,
barbarous,
pitiless
in the sense of bloody
Definition
cruel or murderous
Forty-three demonstrators were badly injured in bloody chaos.
Synonyms
cruel,
fierce,
savage,
brutal,
vicious,
ferocious,
cut-throat,
warlike,
barbarous,
sanguinary (formal)
in the sense of boor
Definition
an ill-mannered, clumsy, or insensitive person
He was a braggart, a cynic and a boor.
Synonyms
lout,
peasant (informal),
hick (informal, US, Canadian),
barbarian,
brute,
philistine,
redneck (US, slang),
oaf,
bumpkin,
vulgarian,
hayseed (US, Canadian, informal),
cougan (Australian, slang),
scozza (Australian, slang),
bogan (Australian, slang),
clodhopper (informal),
churl,
clodpole
in the sense of brutal
Definition
cruel
He was the victim of a very brutal attack.
Synonyms
cruel,
harsh,
savage,
grim,
vicious,
ruthless,
ferocious,
callous,
sadistic,
heartless,
atrocious,
inhuman,
merciless,
cold-blooded,
inhumane,
brutish,
bloodthirsty,
remorseless,
barbarous,
pitiless,
uncivilized,
hard-hearted
in the sense of brute
Definition
a brutal person
an unpleasant brute
Synonyms
savage,
devil,
monster,
beast,
barbarian,
fiend,
swine,
ogre,
ghoul,
sadist
in the sense of brutish
Definition
coarse
The man was brutish and coarse.
Synonyms
coarse,
stupid,
gross,
cruel,
savage,
crude,
vulgar,
barbarian,
crass,
boorish,
uncouth,
loutish,
subhuman,
swinish
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cataclysmic
Few had expected the change to be as cataclysmic as it was.
Synonyms
disastrous,
devastating,
catastrophic,
calamitous,
convulsionary
in the sense of catastrophic
A tidal wave caused catastrophic damage.
Synonyms
disastrous,
devastating,
tragic,
calamitous,
cataclysmic
in the sense of claw
Definition
to scrape, tear, or dig with claws or nails
The wolf clawed at the tree and howled the whole night.
Synonyms
scratch,
tear,
dig,
rip,
scrape,
graze,
maul,
scrabble,
mangle,
mangulate (Australian, slang),
lacerate
in the sense of devastating
the devastating force of the floods
Synonyms
destructive,
damaging,
catastrophic,
harmful,
detrimental,
pernicious (formal),
ruinous,
calamitous,
cataclysmic,
deleterious (formal),
injurious,
maleficent
in the sense of diabolical
sins committed in a spirit of diabolical enjoyment
Synonyms
wicked,
cruel,
savage,
monstrous,
malicious,
satanic,
from hell (informal),
malignant,
unspeakable,
inhuman,
implacable,
malevolent,
hellish,
devilish,
infernal (informal),
fiendish,
ungodly,
black-hearted,
demoniac,
hellacious (US, slang)
in the sense of disastrous
the recent, disastrous earthquake
Synonyms
terrible,
devastating,
tragic,
fatal,
unfortunate,
dreadful,
destructive,
unlucky,
harmful,
adverse,
dire,
catastrophic,
detrimental,
untoward,
ruinous,
calamitous,
cataclysmic,
ill-starred,
unpropitious,
ill-fated,
cataclysmal
in the sense of disparage
Definition
to speak contemptuously of
his tendency to disparage literature
Synonyms
run down,
dismiss,
put down,
criticize,
underestimate,
discredit,
ridicule,
scorn,
minimize,
disdain,
undervalue,
deride,
slag (off) (slang),
knock (informal),
blast,
flame (informal),
rubbish (informal),
malign,
detract from,
denigrate,
belittle,
decry,
underrate,
vilify,
slander,
deprecate,
tear into (informal),
diss (slang),
throw shade (at) (slang),
defame,
bad-mouth (slang),
lambast(e),
traduce (formal),
derogate,
asperse
in the sense of feral
Definition
(of animals and plants) existing in a wild state, esp. after being domestic or cultivated
There are many feral cats roaming the area.
Synonyms
wild,
untamed,
uncultivated,
undomesticated,
unbroken
in the sense of ferocious
Definition
savagely fierce or cruel
Fighting has been ferocious.
Synonyms
cruel,
bitter,
brutal,
vicious,
ruthless,
relentless,
barbaric,
merciless,
brutish,
bloodthirsty,
barbarous,
pitiless,
tigerish
in the sense of ferocious
Definition
savagely fierce or cruel
By its nature a lion is ferocious.
Synonyms
fierce,
violent,
savage,
ravening,
predatory,
feral,
rapacious,
wild
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fiend
Definition
a cruel or wicked person
a saint to his parents and a fiend to his children
Synonyms
brute,
monster,
savage,
beast,
degenerate,
barbarian,
ogre,
ghoul
in the sense of fierce
Definition
very aggressive or angry
the teeth of some fierce animal
Synonyms
ferocious,
wild,
dangerous,
cruel,
savage,
brutal,
aggressive,
menacing,
vicious,
fiery,
murderous,
uncontrollable,
feral,
untamed,
barbarous,
fell (archaic),
threatening,
baleful,
truculent,
tigerish,
aggers (Australian, slang),
biffo (Australian, slang)
in the sense of harsh
Definition
unkind and showing no understanding
He said many harsh and unkind things.
Synonyms
hard,
sharp,
severe,
bitter,
cruel,
stern,
unpleasant,
abusive,
unkind,
pitiless,
unfeeling
in the sense of heathen
She called us all heathens and hypocrites.
Synonyms
barbarian,
savage,
philistine,
oaf,
plebeian,
ignoramus,
boor
in the sense of inhuman
Definition
cruel or brutal
The barbaric slaughter of whales is unnecessary and inhuman.
Synonyms
cruel,
savage,
brutal,
vicious,
ruthless,
barbaric,
heartless,
merciless,
diabolical,
cold-blooded,
remorseless,
barbarous,
fiendish,
pitiless,
unfeeling,
bestial
in the sense of knock
Definition
to criticize adversely
I'm not knocking them: if they want to do it, it's up to them.
Synonyms
criticize,
condemn,
put down,
run down,
abuse,
blast,
pan (informal),
slam (slang),
flame (informal),
slate (informal),
have a go (at) (informal),
censure,
slag (off) (slang),
denigrate,
belittle,
disparage,
deprecate,
diss (slang),
throw shade (at) (slang),
find fault with,
carp at,
lambast(e),
pick holes in,
cast aspersions on,
cavil at,
pick to pieces,
give (someone or something) a bad press,
nit-pick (informal)
in the sense of lacerate
Definition
to tear (the flesh) jaggedly
Its claws lacerated his thighs.
Synonyms
tear,
cut,
wound,
rend (literary),
rip,
slash,
claw,
maim,
mangle,
mangulate (Australian, slang),
gash,
jag
in the sense of mangle
Definition
to destroy or damage by crushing and twisting
After being crushed, the car was mangled beyond all recognition.
Synonyms
crush,
mutilate,
maim,
deform,
cut,
total (slang),
tear,
destroy,
ruin,
mar,
rend,
wreck,
spoil,
butcher,
cripple,
hack,
distort,
trash (slang),
maul,
disfigure,
lacerate,
mangulate (Australian, slang)
in the sense of merciless
Definition
without mercy
the merciless efficiency of a modern police state
Synonyms
cruel,
ruthless,
hard,
severe,
harsh,
relentless,
callous,
heartless,
unforgiving,
fell (archaic),
inexorable,
implacable,
unsympathetic,
inhumane,
barbarous,
pitiless,
unfeeling,
unsparing,
hard-hearted,
unmerciful,
unappeasable,
unpitying
in the sense of monster
Definition
an exceptionally cruel or wicked person
You make me sound like an absolute monster!
Synonyms
brute,
devil,
savage,
beast,
demon,
villain,
barbarian,
fiend,
ogre,
ghoul,
bogeyman
Additional synonyms
in the sense of murderous
a series of murderous attacks
Synonyms
deadly,
savage,
brutal,
destructive,
fell (archaic),
bloody,
devastating,
cruel,
lethal,
withering,
ferocious,
cut-throat,
bloodthirsty,
barbarous,
internecine,
death-dealing,
sanguinary
in the sense of pan
Definition
to criticize harshly
His first movie was panned by the critics.
Synonyms
criticize,
knock (informal),
blast,
hammer (British, informal),
slam (slang),
flame (informal),
rubbish (informal),
roast (informal),
put down,
slate (informal),
censure,
slag (off) (slang),
tear into (informal),
flay,
diss (slang),
lambast(e),
throw brickbats at (informal)
in the sense of pitiless
Definition
feeling no pity or mercy
He saw the pitiless eyes of his enemy.
Synonyms
merciless,
ruthless,
heartless,
harsh,
cruel,
brutal,
relentless,
callous,
inhuman,
inexorable,
implacable,
unsympathetic,
cold-blooded,
uncaring,
unfeeling,
cold-hearted,
unmerciful,
hardhearted
in the sense of rugged
Synonyms
rude,
crude,
blunt,
churlish,
barbarous,
uncouth,
unrefined,
graceless,
unpolished,
uncultured
in the sense of ruinous
Definition
causing ruin or destruction
the ruinous effects of the conflict
Synonyms
destructive,
devastating,
shattering,
fatal,
deadly,
disastrous,
dire,
withering,
catastrophic,
murderous,
pernicious (formal),
noxious,
calamitous,
baleful,
deleterious (formal),
injurious,
baneful (archaic)
in the sense of ruthless
Definition
thorough and forceful, regardless of effect
a ruthless totalitarian power
Synonyms
merciless,
hard,
severe,
fierce,
harsh,
cruel,
savage,
brutal,
stern,
relentless,
adamant,
ferocious,
callous,
heartless,
unrelenting,
inhuman,
inexorable,
remorseless,
barbarous,
pitiless,
unfeeling,
hard-hearted,
without pity,
unmerciful,
unpitying
in the sense of sadistic
There was a sadistic streak in him.
Synonyms
cruel,
savage,
brutal,
beastly (informal),
vicious,
ruthless,
perverted,
perverse,
inhuman,
barbarous,
fiendish
in the sense of severe
Definition
very intense or unpleasant
a business with severe cash flow problems
Synonyms
serious,
critical,
terrible,
desperate,
alarming,
extreme,
grave,
awful,
distressing,
appalling,
dire,
drastic,
very bad,
catastrophic,
woeful,
ruinous
in the sense of slam
Definition
to criticize harshly
The director slammed the claims as an outrageous lie.
Synonyms
criticize,
attack,
blast,
pan (informal),
damn,
slate (informal),
shoot down (informal),
castigate,
vilify,
pillory,
tear into (informal),
diss (slang),
lambast(e),
excoriate (literary)
in the sense of slate
Definition
to criticize harshly
Slated by critics at the time, the film has since become a classic.
Synonyms
criticize,
blast,
pan (informal),
slam (slang),
blame,
roast (informal),
censure,
rebuke,
slang,
scold,
berate,
castigate,
rail against,
tear into (informal),
lay into (informal),
pitch into (informal),
take to task,
lambast(e),
flame (informal),
excoriate,
haul over the coals (informal),
tear (someone) off a strip (informal),
rap (someone's) knuckles
Additional synonyms
in the sense of tear
Definition
to pull apart or to pieces
Canine teeth are for tearing flesh.
Synonyms
pull apart,
claw,
lacerate,
sever,
mutilate,
mangle,
mangulate (Australian, slang)
in the sense of tragic
Definition
sad and distressing because it involves death or suffering
the tragic loss of so many lives
Synonyms
distressing,
shocking,
sad,
awful,
appalling,
fatal,
deadly,
unfortunate,
disastrous,
dreadful,
dire,
catastrophic,
grievous,
woeful,
lamentable,
ruinous,
calamitous,
wretched,
ill-starred,
ill-fated
in the sense of unbroken
Definition
(of animals, esp. horses) not tamed
The car plunged like an unbroken horse.
Synonyms
untamed,
wild,
undomesticated
in the sense of uncivilized
Definition
(of a tribe or people) not yet civilized
countries which did not wish to appear backward or uncivilized
Synonyms
primitive,
wild,
savage,
barbarian,
illiterate,
uneducated,
barbaric,
barbarous
in the sense of untamed
Definition
not brought under human control
acting like wild, untamed animals
Synonyms
wild,
fierce,
savage,
unbroken,
uncontrollable,
feral,
barbarous,
untameable,
undomesticated,
not broken in
in the sense of vicious
Definition
(of an animal) fierce or hostile
He suffered a vicious attack by a group of gang members.
Synonyms
savage,
brutal,
violent,
bad,
dangerous,
foul,
cruel,
ferocious,
monstrous,
vile,
atrocious,
diabolical,
heinous,
abhorrent,
barbarous,
fiendish
in the sense of waste
Definition
not cultivated or productive
Yarrow can be found growing wild on waste ground.
Synonyms
uncultivated,
wild,
bare,
barren,
empty,
devastated,
dismal,
dreary,
desolate,
unproductive,
uninhabited
in the sense of yahoo
Definition
a crude, brutish, or obscenely coarse person
a typical City merchant banking yahoo
Synonyms
philistine,
savage,
lout,
beast,
barbarian,
brute,
rowdy,
hoon (Australian, New Zealand),
roughneck (slang),
boor,
churl,
yob or yobbo (British, slang),
cougan (Australian, slang),
scozza (Australian, slang),
bogan (Australian, slang)
in the sense of yob
Definition
a bad-mannered aggressive youth
Violent and dangerous yobs deserve to be locked up.