Barbarous Definition

bärbər-əs

adjective

Primitive or undeveloped in culture and customs; uncivilized.

American Heritage

Foreign or alien; in the ancient world, non-Greek, non-Roman, or non-Christian.

Webster's New World

Lacking refinement or culture; coarse.

Inappropriate, barbarous behavior.

American Heritage

Characteristic of barbarians; primitive or lacking in civilization.

Webster's New World

Characterized by savagery; very cruel.

A barbarous punishment; a barbarous tyrant.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Origin of Barbarous

From Latin barbarus (“foreigner, savage”), from Ancient Greek βάρβαρος (barbaros, “foreign, strange”).

From Wiktionary
From Latin barbarus from Greek barbaros non-Greek, foreign barbarism

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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