Looking up...
barbaric
/bɑrˈbærɪk/
extremely cruel or primitive
The judge condemned the barbaric treatment of prisoners in the war-torn region.
The judge strongly criticized the extremely cruel and inhumane treatment of prisoners.
formal
extremely cruel or harsh, lacking civilization or refinement
The ancient tribe's barbaric rituals shocked the explorers.
The ancient tribe's extremely cruel and primitive rituals horrified the explorers.
Human rights groups condemned the barbaric conditions in the prison camp.
Human rights groups strongly criticized the extremely harsh and inhumane conditions in the prison camp.
Often used to describe acts that are considered morally unacceptable or shockingly brutal. Avoid using it to describe people or cultures as a whole, as this can be seen as derogatory.
literary
primitive or uncivilized in a way that suggests a lack of cultural development
The explorer wrote about the barbaric customs of the isolated island tribe.
The explorer described the primitive and uncivilized customs of the isolated island tribe.
This sense is more historical or literary and implies a lack of progress or sophistication.
Collocations
barbaric treatmentextremely cruel handlingbarbaric conditionsharsh and inhumane circumstancesbarbaric actan extremely cruel deed
Pro Tip
Avoid cultural stereotyping
Do not use 'barbaric' to describe entire cultures or historical periods, as this can reinforce harmful stereotypes. Instead, focus on specific actions or practices that are cruel or primitive.
Gold Rule
Use with precision
Reserve 'barbaric' for acts or conditions that are shockingly cruel or primitive. Avoid using it to describe people, as it can be seen as derogatory.
Word Origin
From Latin *barbaricus*, derived from *barbarus* (meaning 'foreign, uncivilized'), which comes from Greek *barbaros* (βάρβαρος), originally an onomatopoeic term mimicking the sound of non-Greek speakers' speech, implying they were unintelligible.
Usage Notes
The word carries strong negative connotations and should be used carefully. It can be seen as judgmental or culturally insensitive when applied to entire societies or historical periods. In modern contexts, it is typically used to describe specific acts or practices rather than people or cultures.
Word Breakdown
barbar-
from Greek *barbaros*, meaning 'foreign, uncivilized'
root-ic
adjective-forming suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary