savage savage /ˈsævɪdʒ/

adjective

1. () (of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering  ( barbarous , fell , roughshod , brutal , cruel , savage , vicious )
   (of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
    A barbarous crime
   a barbarous crime
    Brutal beatings
   brutal beatings
    Cruel tortures
   cruel tortures
    Stalin's roughshod treatment of the kulaks
   Stalin's roughshod treatment of the kulaks
    A savage slap
   a savage slap
    Vicious kicks
   vicious kicks
   
2. () Without civilizing influences  ( barbarian , uncivilised [British] , uncivilized , barbaric , savage , wild )
   without civilizing influences
    Barbarian invaders
   barbarian invaders
    Barbaric practices
   barbaric practices
    A savage people
   a savage people
    Fighting is crude and uncivilized especially if the weapons are efficient
   fighting is crude and uncivilized especially if the weapons are efficient
    Wild tribes
   wild tribes
   
3. () Wild and menacing  ( feral , ferine , savage )
   wild and menacing
    A pack of feral dogs
   a pack of feral dogs
   
4. Marked by extreme and violent energy  ( savage , ferocious , furious , fierce )
   marked by extreme and violent energy
    A ferocious beating
   a ferocious beating
    Fierce fighting
   fierce fighting
    A furious battle
   a furious battle
   

noun

1. () A member of an uncivilized people  ( barbarian , savage )
   a member of an uncivilized people
    Historical accounts often described the indigenous tribes as savages, but this was a grave misrepresentation.
   Historical accounts often described the indigenous tribes as savages, but this was a grave misrepresentation.
   
   
2. A cruelly rapacious person  ( savage , wolf , beast , brute , wildcat [Informal] )
   a cruelly rapacious person
   

verb

1. Criticize harshly or violently  ( blast [Informal] , crucify , pillory , savage )
   criticize harshly or violently
    The press savaged the new President
   The press savaged the new President
    The critics crucified the author for plagiarizing a famous passage
   The critics crucified the author for plagiarizing a famous passage
   
2. Attack brutally and fiercely  ( savage )
   attack brutally and fiercely