barbarous

[ bahr-ber-uhs ]

adjective

1. uncivilized; wild; savage; crude.
2. savagely cruel or harsh:

   The prisoners of war were given barbarous treatment.

   Synonyms: brutal, inhuman, ferocious

3. full of harsh sounds; noisy; discordant:

   an evening of wild and barbarous music.

4. not conforming to classical standards or accepted usage, as language.
5. foreign; alien.
6. (among ancient Greeks) designating a person or thing of non-Greek origin.

barbarous

/ ˈbɑːbərəs /

adjective

1. uncivilized; primitive
2. brutal or cruel
3. lacking refinement

Derived Forms

• ˈbarbarously, adverb
• ˈbarbarousness, noun

Other Words From

• barba·rous·ly adverb
• barba·rous·ness noun
• hyper·barbar·ous adjective
• hyper·barbar·ous·ly adverb
• hyper·barbar·ous·ness noun
• non·barba·rous adjective
• non·barba·rous·ly adverb
• non·barba·rous·ness noun
• pre·barba·rous adjective
• pre·barba·rous·ly adverb
• pre·barba·rous·ness noun
• un·barba·rous adjective
• un·barba·rous·ly adverb
• un·barba·rous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of barbarous¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin barbarus < Greek bárbaros non-Greek, foreign, barbarian; akin to Sanskrit barbara stammering, non-Aryan; -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of barbarous¹

C15: via Latin from Greek barbaros barbarian, non-Greek, in origin imitative of incomprehensible speech; compare Sanskrit barbara stammering, non-Aryan

Synonym Study

See barbarian.

Example Sentences

Jay stayed for three-and-a-half years, working for a man he later described as "barbarous" but insisting he managed to shield himself from lasting damage.

From BBC

In its expansive definition of national sovereignty, this treaty allowed European states to acquire “barbarous nations” by conquest and make entire oceans into a mare clausum, or a closed sea, through exploration.

From Salon

The questions have developed in the wake of Hamas’ barbarous sneak attack earlier this month and Israel’s crushing countermeasures, which have displaced hundreds of thousands of residents of Gaza, the Hamas-controlled territory bordering Israel.

From Washington Times

"As an occupying power, Israel has no right or justification to target the defenceless civilian population in Gaza or elsewhere in Palestine," the Palestinian foreign ministry said, denouncing a "barbarous campaign of death and destruction".

From Reuters

"I will fight this barbarous and inhumane practice - just the thought of it makes me sick."

From BBC

Related Words

• atrocious
• barbaric
• brutal
• cruel
• heartless
• inhuman
• inhumane
• rude
• ruthless
• sadistic
• uncivilized
• unsophisticated
• vicious
• vulgar