savagery

noun

sav·​age·​ry ˈsa-vi-jə-rē How to pronounce savagery (audio)
ˈsa-vij-rē
plural savageries
1
a
: the quality of being savage
b
: an act of cruelty or violence
2
: an uncivilized state

Examples of savagery in a Sentence

The savagery of the attack was horrifying. an act of pure savagery the savageries committed by the soldiers
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In that kind of large-scale project, Thompson-Jones traces echoes of a brutal legacy: the savagery of the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin’s Arctic infrastructure campaign, in which roads, railways, and mines were built by prisoners and forced laborers, many of whom died during the construction. Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025 To visit these places is to be shocked anew by the savagery that was the defining trait of the Jim Crow South — and the astonishing courage of the people who took part in the struggle for freedom and justice. Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025 Here, Andor repositions Saw from someone who is unusual because of his savagery and instability to someone who could only turn out this way because of what he’s lived through. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2025 Known for its savagery and the popularity level of both fighters at the time. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for savagery

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of savagery was circa 1616

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Cite this Entry

“Savagery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/savagery. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

savagery

noun
sav·​age·​ry ˈsav-ij-(ə-)rē How to pronounce savagery (audio)
plural savageries
1
: savage disposition or action : cruelty
2
: the state of being savage

More from Merriam-Webster on savagery

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