barbaric

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barbaric" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is considered primitive, cruel, or lacking in civilization. Example: "The treatment of prisoners in that facility was nothing short of barbaric."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yet, far from expressing wonder that an act as extreme and barbaric as the murders is what it takes for the west to show defiance towards a religious duty that is not meaningful to non-Muslims, cultural provocateurs successfully argue that this highly exceptional situation is in fact indicative of a general contempt for Islam.

The Guardian - Opinion

I sold them to buy a gun – not to aim at the army soldiers, who were my colleagues and most likely did not have the chance to defect, but to fire against barbaric shabiha [militia], who were slaying people and with burning and smashing civilian houses.

The Guardian

"All forms of commercial whaling are unacceptable, and we must not let this barbaric practice continue under the guide of scientific research".

The Guardian

The other solutions are, I think, much more barbaric – by that I mean the oligarch system of Russia, which I don't believe in, and inflation, which is really just a tax on the poor".

The Guardian - Books

Aside from God Almighty, what is the only force capable of keeping this barbaric tide at bay? It's the red white and blue, it's the United States military".

The Guardian

As I toured the villages I heard many accounts of barbaric suffering beneath the equatorial heat.

The Guardian

"It was absolutely barbaric".

The Guardian

If "libertarian paternalism" is stipulated to be a programme of "choice-preserving decision architecture", to use Messrs Sunstein and Thaler's barbaric jargon, then "libertarian paternalism" is nothing but a profoundly confusing, completely superfluous synonym for anti-paternalism.

The Economist

At its most theocratic, it forces people to follow sharia laws, sometimes with barbaric penalties.

The Economist

This is frankly no justification for the continuation of this barbaric sport.I can think of no more horrible death than to be ripped apart by a pack of dogs.

The Economist

Eating dogs, too, is increasingly viewed as barbaric (a 600-year old dog-eating festival in eastern China was cancelled in September after public uproar).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barbaric", ensure the context clearly establishes the extreme cruelty or lack of civilization you are describing. It is a strong term, so reserve it for situations where the severity warrants such language.

Common error

Avoid using "barbaric" to describe situations that are merely unpleasant or inconvenient. This diminishes the impact of the word when describing truly horrific events.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "barbaric" primarily functions as a descriptive modifier. It serves to characterize nouns, attributing to them the quality of being extremely cruel, brutal, or uncivilized. This is consistent with Ludwig AI's analysis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "barbaric" is a powerful adjective used to describe acts or conditions of extreme cruelty and lack of civilization. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news and media contexts. While versatile, it should be employed judiciously to maintain its impact and avoid overuse in milder situations. Consider alternatives like "savage" or "brutal" for nuanced expression. The word carries significant emotional weight and should be reserved for situations where the severity warrants such language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

savage

Emphasizes the untamed and brutal aspect, often associated with a lack of civilization.

brutal

Focuses on the physical violence and cruelty involved.

inhumane

Highlights the lack of compassion and disregard for human suffering.

atrocious

Stresses the shockingly bad or appalling nature of the act.

heinous

Emphasizes the wickedness and moral reprehensibility of the action.

uncivilized

Focuses on the lack of societal norms and refinement.

ruthless

Highlights the lack of pity or compassion in carrying out the action.

vicious

Emphasizes the malicious and cruel intent behind the action.

ferocious

Suggests a wild and fierce nature, often associated with aggression.

callous

Focuses on the insensitivity and lack of empathy towards the suffering of others.

FAQs

How to use "barbaric" in a sentence?

Use "barbaric" to describe acts or conditions that are extremely cruel, brutal, and uncivilized. For example, "The treatment of prisoners was described as "barbaric"." or "The conditions of the war were "barbaric"."

What can I say instead of "barbaric"?

You can use alternatives like "savage", "brutal", or "inhumane" depending on the specific context.

What makes an act "barbaric"?

An act is considered "barbaric" when it is extremely cruel, brutal, and lacking any sense of humanity or civilization. It often involves violence and a disregard for the suffering of others.

Is "barbaric" a formal or informal word?

"Barbaric" is generally considered a neutral to formal word, suitable for use in news reports, academic writing, and other serious contexts. However, its strong emotional connotation means it should be used carefully and appropriately.