SAVAGES Synonyms: 143 Similar and Opposite Words

savages 1 of 2

noun

plural of savage

as in brutes

a mean, evil, or unprincipled person what kind of savage would hurt a baby?

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as in barbarians

an uncivilized person inhabitants of exotic lands were invariably portrayed by early travel writers as savages

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savages

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of savage

as in attacks

to criticize harshly and usually publicly book reviewers mercilessly savaged his latest novel

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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 savages

Noun

And potentially discover treasure that will keep the savages at home from tearing the place down. — Barry Collins, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 Or a group of shipwrecked boys turning into savages and killing one another? — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026 The Indians in Westerns had war paint and whooped like savages. — Literary Hub, 28 May 2026 Smoothbrain libs and savages can KMA. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026 This notion was based on outdated presumptions of hillforts as being occupied by violent, prehistoric savages. — News Desk, Artforum, 10 Apr. 2026 Or Irish, in a time when they were seen as savages by the Englishmen? — Arushi Jacob, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for savages

Noun

These brutes commonly exceed 50 pounds.

— Keith Sutton, Outdoor Life, 18 June 2026
In Raspail’s tale, hordes of impoverished and dark-skinned brutes from India descend onto French shores by way of rafts, the first wave of an invasion of the civilized West by the brown-skinned developing world.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026

Definition of brutes

Verb

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that attacks healthy cells in the central nervous system.

— Mark Morales, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
Why Autoimmune Diseases Are Easy to Miss Autoimmune diseases happen when the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues.

— Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of attacks

Noun

Rival fans were quick to jump all over this fact, given that both the Panthers and the Tkachuk brothers were seen as polarizing villains throughout the NHL.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
There are no villains or scary scenes in this gentle story about a young witch finding her way in the world.

— Anna Earl, Parents, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of villains

Verb

Some intergenerational sparring ensues, as Kevin scolds Arthur for his more outré boomer comments, and Arthur in turn sneers at his grandson’s millennial lameness.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
The audience screams in response, and Scovel scolds them again but this time with a smile.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of scolds

Noun

Yet the greatest of these monsters is Poseidon himself, the great disruptor, the earth-shaker and master of the stormy seas.

— Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
First, as medical courier Bryan Hodukavich in Resident Evil, he was forced to contend with an onslaught of mutant zombie monsters.

— Megan McCluskey, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of monsters

Verb

Anyone who repeatedly abuses AI tools may soon find Claude giving them the silent treatment.

— James Peckham, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
Detectives will continue investigating these cases aggressively, and anyone who abuses their position with a child will be held accountable.

— Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of abuses

Noun

That same month, criminals nabbed a $4 million diamond necklace from Vienna’s Museum of Applied Arts (MAK).

— Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
For decades, Hollywood actor Danny Trejo’s bread and butter was playing gangsters, prison inmates and other assorted criminals.

— Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of criminals

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savagery

savages

savaging

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“Savages.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/savages. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of savages

noun

verb

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