SAVAGERY Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

savagery

noun

ˈsa-vij-rē

Definition of savagery

as in cruelty

disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others a study of the savagery shown by soldiers in wartime

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of savagery Unspeakable savagery masquerading as theater didn’t start with Bin Laden. — David Friend, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 2026 The entire attack lasted less than a minute, but the bear’s savagery resulted in horrible wounds to McCoy. — Jan Thacker, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2026 As our conversation shows, the flip side of his savagery is his generosity. — Merve Emre, The New York Review of Books, 1 Sep. 2026 From 1937 to 1939, the muralist José Clemente Orozco filled the Hospicio's central chapel with 57 frescoes that trace Mexico's history from colonial savagery through the brutalizing hope of industrialization. — Michael Snyder, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for savagery

Recent Examples of Synonyms for savagery

Noun

Luhansk, this terra incognita of the independent Ukraine, is described in almost carnivalesque terms, but this is a carnival infused with absurdity and even cruelty.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
Artistaya Arriyawongsa directed and co-wrote the film, which uses the supernatural to probe online cruelty and the public shaming it fuels.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of cruelty

Noun

Notable releases include a novel about police brutality, the return of Barbara Kingsolver, 1980s fiction and a deep dive into the very real specter of artificial intelligence.

— Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 8 Oct. 2026
The government suspended the use of stun grenades after a 15-year-old boy's hand was blown off earlier in the week, fueling accusations of police brutality.

— Jenni Reid, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of brutality

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savageness

savagery

savages

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“Savagery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/savagery. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of savagery

noun

Example Sentences

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