uncivilised
Definition
Adjective: 1. Not having or showing the social and cultural norms considered advanced or polite by a specific society or group: This describes people, behavior, or practices that are perceived as lacking the refinement, organization, or development associated with a particular idea of civilization. It often implies a state considered primitive, wild, or barbaric from the perspective of the speaker. 2. Rough, coarse, or brutal in behavior: This meaning focuses on actions that are harsh, violent, or lacking in courtesy and restraint.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The explorer wrote about encountering uncivilised tribes deep in the jungle. (Here, "uncivilised" describes groups perceived as living without the social structures of the explorer's own society.)
- His uncivilised table manners, like eating with his hands, shocked the formal guests. (This describes behavior considered impolite or not refined.)
- Many now consider the term "uncivilised" to be a biased and outdated way to describe other cultures. (This example shows the word itself being discussed critically.)
- The brutal attack was described as an uncivilised act of aggression. (This use emphasizes brutality and a lack of humane restraint.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is highly subjective and value-laden. What one group considers "civilised," another may not. Its use often reflects the cultural biases of the speaker.
- In modern academic and social discourse, the word is often avoided due to its ethnocentric and pejorative connotations. Terms like "non-industrialized," "indigenous," or specific cultural descriptions are preferred.
- It can be used in a hyperbolic or humorous way to criticize rude behavior within a society:
Variants and Related Words
- Uncivilized (adj): The preferred spelling in American English. It has the same meaning as "uncivilised."
- Civilised/Civilized (adj): The direct antonym, meaning having a high state of culture and social development, or polite and well-mannered.
- Barbaric (adj): Savagely cruel or exceedingly brutal; often used interchangeably with "uncivilised" in its negative sense.
- Savage (adj/ n): (Potentially offensive) Fierce, violent, and uncontrolled; or a member of a people perceived as primitive and uncivilized.
- Primitive (adj): Relating to an early stage of development; often used in anthropology but can carry similar biased connotations as "uncivilised."
Synonyms
- Barbarous
- Wild
- Uncultured
- Coarse
- Rude
- Brutish
Antonyms
- Civilised/Civilized
- Cultured
- Refined
- Polished
- Sophisticated
- Polite
Related Idioms/Phrases
- A life uncivilised: A phrase sometimes used to romanticize a simple, non-urban life close to nature, free from complex social rules. (Note: This usage can still be problematic as it projects an outsider's view onto a way of life.)
- He dreamed of escaping the city to live a life uncivilised in the wilderness.
Adjective
-
without civilizing influences
-
barbarian invaders
-
barbaric practices
-
a savage people
-
fighting is crude and uncivilized especially if the weapons are efficient-Margaret Meade
-
wild tribes
-
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
Từ tương tự
Từ gần giống
