adj
barbarous
BAH-buh-ruhs
adj
1
Extremely cruel or savage.
"The regime was infamous for its barbarous treatment of prisoners."
2
Uncivilized or lacking in culture.
"The travelers were shocked by what they saw as the barbarous customs of the region."
How to Use Barbarous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCruel and savage, or uncivilized — very close in meaning to "barbaric."
Easily confused with
Word Forms
more barbarous comparative, most barbarous superlative
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The regime was infamous for its _____ treatment of prisoners.
Etymology
From Latin barbarus ("foreigner, savage"), from Greek barbaros.