Barbarous
adjective
Very cruel and brutal.
The barbarous treatment of the prisoners was condemned by the international community.
Often appears as...
- barbarous act
- barbarous treatment
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Not civilized, primitive.
Their way of life was seen as barbarous by their conquerors.
Often appears as...
- barbarous tribes
- barbarous customs
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Harsh-sounding or unpleasant to the ear.
The barbarous noise from the construction site disturbed his sleep.
Often appears as...
- barbarous noise
- barbarous sounds
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Very cruel and brutal.
The barbarous treatment of the prisoners was condemned by the international community.
Often appears as...
- barbarous act
- barbarous treatment
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Not civilized, primitive.
Their way of life was seen as barbarous by their conquerors.
Often appears as...
- barbarous tribes
- barbarous customs
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Harsh-sounding or unpleasant to the ear.
The barbarous noise from the construction site disturbed his sleep.
Often appears as...
- barbarous noise
- barbarous sounds
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Severity Emphasis
Use 'barbarous' when describing actions that shock due to their extreme cruelty or inhumanity.
The dictator's barbarous regime was feared by all.
Pro Tip 2/3Condemnation Tone
'Barbarous' often implies strong disapproval and moral outrage towards the described act.
Journalists reported the barbarous nature of the warfare.
Pro Tip 3/3Literary Dramatization
In literature, 'barbarous' can be used to heighten drama by showing extreme conflict.
The hero faced the barbarous villain without fear.
Pro Tip 1/3Severity Emphasis
Use 'barbarous' when describing actions that shock due to their extreme cruelty or inhumanity.
The dictator's barbarous regime was feared by all.
Pro Tip 2/3Condemnation Tone
'Barbarous' often implies strong disapproval and moral outrage towards the described act.
Journalists reported the barbarous nature of the warfare.
Pro Tip 3/3Literary Dramatization
In literature, 'barbarous' can be used to heighten drama by showing extreme conflict.
The hero faced the barbarous villain without fear.
Pro Tip 1/3Severity Emphasis
Use 'barbarous' when describing actions that shock due to their extreme cruelty or inhumanity.
The dictator's barbarous regime was feared by all.
Pro Tip 2/3Condemnation Tone
'Barbarous' often implies strong disapproval and moral outrage towards the described act.
Journalists reported the barbarous nature of the warfare.
Pro Tip 3/3Literary Dramatization
In literature, 'barbarous' can be used to heighten drama by showing extreme conflict.
The hero faced the barbarous villain without fear.
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Video examples
Adam Nicolson: The King...
do a new translation of the New Testament and which he said he aimed to close the idea of the Apostle the Apostles with propriety and perspicuity replacing the bald and barbarous language of the old vulgar version
Video examples
Adam Nicolson: The King...
do a new translation of the New Testament and which he said he aimed to close the idea of the Apostle the Apostles with propriety and perspicuity replacing the bald and barbarous language of the old vulgar version
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
William Wilberforce
English Politician
What should we suppose must naturally be the consequence of our carrying on a slave trade with Africa? With a country, vast in its extent, not utterly barbarous, but civilized in a very small degree? Does any one suppose a slave trade would help their civilization?
Quote examples
George Edward Woodberry
American Critic
Always, some great culture is dying to enrich the soil of new harvests, some civlization is crumbling to rubbish to be the hill of a more beautiful city, some race is spending itself that a lower and more barbarous world may inherit its stored treasure house.
Quote examples
Albert Camus
French Philosopher
For centuries the death penalty, often accompanied by barbarous refinements, has been trying to hold crime in check; yet crime persists. Why? Because the instincts that are warring in man are not, as the law claims, constant forces in a state of equilibrium.
Quote examples
Ann Widdecombe
British Politician
I am a passionate opponent of fox hunting because the fox runs in fear of its life over a prolonged period, hearing the hounds getting closer and closer. Barbarous does not even begin to describe such a sport.
Quote examples
John Muir
American Environmentalist
I suppose we need not go mourning the buffaloes. In the nature of things, they had to give place to better cattle, though the change might have been made without barbarous wickedness.
Quote examples
Daniel Defoe
English Journalist
I have often thought of it as one of the most barbarous customs in the world, considering us as a civilized and a Christian country, that we deny the advantages of learning to women.
Quote examples
Ethan Allen
American Revolutionary
In those parts of the world where learning and science has prevailed, miracles have ceased; but in those parts of it as are barbarous and ignorant, miracles are still in vogue.
Quote examples
George Santayana
Spanish Philosopher
Fashion is something barbarous, for it produces innovation without reason and imitation without benefit.
Quote examples
Brigitte Bardot
French Actress
I only want to protect animals from barbarous, cruel, inhuman and backward rituals.
Quote examples
Neil LaBute
American Director
We humans are a fairly barbarous bunch.
Quote examples
William Wilberforce
English Politician
What should we suppose must naturally be the consequence of our carrying on a slave trade with Africa? With a country, vast in its extent, not utterly barbarous, but civilized in a very small degree? Does any one suppose a slave trade would help their civilization?
Quote examples
George Edward Woodberry
American Critic
Always, some great culture is dying to enrich the soil of new harvests, some civlization is crumbling to rubbish to be the hill of a more beautiful city, some race is spending itself that a lower and more barbarous world may inherit its stored treasure house.
Quote examples
Albert Camus
French Philosopher
For centuries the death penalty, often accompanied by barbarous refinements, has been trying to hold crime in check; yet crime persists. Why? Because the instincts that are warring in man are not, as the law claims, constant forces in a state of equilibrium.
Quote examples
Ann Widdecombe
British Politician
I am a passionate opponent of fox hunting because the fox runs in fear of its life over a prolonged period, hearing the hounds getting closer and closer. Barbarous does not even begin to describe such a sport.
Quote examples
John Muir
American Environmentalist
I suppose we need not go mourning the buffaloes. In the nature of things, they had to give place to better cattle, though the change might have been made without barbarous wickedness.
Quote examples
Daniel Defoe
English Journalist
I have often thought of it as one of the most barbarous customs in the world, considering us as a civilized and a Christian country, that we deny the advantages of learning to women.
Quote examples
Ethan Allen
American Revolutionary
In those parts of the world where learning and science has prevailed, miracles have ceased; but in those parts of it as are barbarous and ignorant, miracles are still in vogue.
Quote examples
George Santayana
Spanish Philosopher
Fashion is something barbarous, for it produces innovation without reason and imitation without benefit.
Quote examples
Brigitte Bardot
French Actress
I only want to protect animals from barbarous, cruel, inhuman and backward rituals.
Quote examples
Neil LaBute
American Director
We humans are a fairly barbarous bunch.
Example 1 of 10
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