as in savage
not civilized
people who were regarded as barbarian by the ancient Romans
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in primitive
an uncivilized person
the invading Germanic tribes were viewed as barbarians by the citizens of ancient Rome
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of barbarian
Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 20 June 2024
The Amazigh, or Berber people—the term used by foreigners, comes from the same Latin root as barbarian—are the Indigenous people of North Africa.
—Saki Knafo, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Jan. 2023
Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2024
Faces painted white, surrounded by concubines of every gender, Emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) are utterly taken with the barbarian who can recite Virgil while covered in another man’s blood, after Macrinus presents Lucius in a private showcase.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for barbarian 
Adjective
Column of Marcus Aurelius was erected in AD 180 to commemorate his victories over the barbarian tribes of the Danube.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 20 June 2024
The Amazigh, or Berber people—the term used by foreigners, comes from the same Latin root as barbarian—are the Indigenous people of North Africa.
—Saki Knafo, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Jan. 2023
Noun
Lucius is a barbarian defending his home from the invading Romans.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2024
Faces painted white, surrounded by concubines of every gender, Emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) are utterly taken with the barbarian who can recite Virgil while covered in another man’s blood, after Macrinus presents Lucius in a private showcase.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for barbarian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barbarian
Adjective
-
The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2022
-
As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.—
Tom Yulsman,
Discover Magazine,
27 Dec. 2022
Noun
-
Burlington Antique Show Browse more than 200 dealers of antiques, vintage jewelry, primitives, garden and architectural elements, mid-century collectibles, memorabilia, Americana and retro/vintage furniture at this monthly outdoor antique market.—
Luann Gibbs,
The Enquirer,
14 Aug. 2024
-
It can be used to achieve a lot of other cryptographic primitives.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
1 Aug. 2024
Adjective
-
Not wanting to be rude, the plumber welcomed Albert in.—
Kristan Hawkins,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
-
Harry would’ve been grumpy and rude, making brusque jokes about inane gender stereotypes and asking direct, invasive questions about anatomy.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
On just his second hole of the day, the 2018 Masters champion teed off at the 12th – renowned for its raucous atmosphere and wild celebrations – with his ball eventually rolling into the cup.—
Ben Morse,
CNN,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Fans speculated, tabloids theorized—but the truth is wilder than fiction.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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If Russia instead suffers economically, the invasion will be seen as a self-defeating, barbaric blunder.—
Andrew Kosenko,
Foreign Affairs,
5 Feb. 2025
-
Auschwitz consisted of three separate camps: Auschwitz I, built on former military barracks, housed the infamous Block 10, where Nazi scientists conducted barbaric medical experiments.—
Natalia Romik / Madę by History,
TIME,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Experts told PolitiFact such narratives painting Haiti as a barbarous country are not new and are racist attempts to dehumanize Haitians.—
Jeff Cercone,
Austin American-Statesman,
14 Sep. 2024
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Treating barbarous body horror as something embedded in us deeper than the mutual love of a partner, especially when it’s done without the theatrical or exploitation trappings, makes for one of the New French Extremity’s most troubling works.—
Rory Doherty,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2024
Adjective
-
Under the Omanis, Zanzibar grew rich selling spices, ivory, and slaves, mostly non-Muslims from the interior, whom the island’s élites derided as washenzi, or uncivilized.—
Julian Lucas,
The New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2022
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Forcing a woman to choose between jail and carrying her rapist's baby is uncivilized and medieval.—
CNN,
CNN,
27 June 2022
Thesaurus Entries Near barbarian
Cite this Entry
“Barbarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barbarian. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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