Definition

1. Noun:
   • A brutal, barbarous, or savage act: An instance of extreme violence or cruelty, often perceived as primitive or uncivilized.
   • The trait of extreme cruelty: The quality or character of being viciously brutal.
   • The property of being untamed and ferocious: A wild, fierce, or uncontrolled nature.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The savagery of the attack shocked the nation.
  • He was appalled by the sheer savagery of the dictator's regime.
  • The savagery of the storm left the coastline in ruins.

Advanced Usage

• "To descend into savagery": to revert to a state of brutal violence or primitive behavior.
  • Without the rule of law, the society descended into savagery.
• "An act of pure savagery": an action motivated solely by extreme brutality.
  • The massacre was an act of pure savagery.

Variants and Related Words

• Savage (adj/noun/verb): Fierce, violent, or cruel; a person perceived as primitive or brutal; to attack ferociously.
  • The critics delivered a savage review.
• Savageness (noun): The state or quality of being savage; synonymous with one meaning of 'savagery'.
  • The savageness of the frontier was legendary.

Synonyms

• Barbarity: Extreme cruelty or brutality.
• Brutality: Savage physical violence; cruel and inhuman treatment.
• Ferocity: The state or quality of being ferociously wild or savage.
• Viciousness: Deliberate cruelty or violence.

Antonyms

• Civility: Formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech.
• Humanity: The quality of being humane; benevolence.
• Gentleness: The quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered.

Related Phrases

• "The thin veneer of civilization": A phrase often used to suggest that civilized behavior is superficial and can easily give way to underlying savagery.
  • The riots showed the thin veneer of civilization that covered the city's social tensions.

Noun

1. a brutal barbarous savage act
2. the trait of extreme cruelty
3. the property of being untamed and ferocious
   • the coastline is littered with testaments to the savageness of the waters
   • a craving for barbaric splendor, for savagery and color and the throb of drums