Word.ws English Dictionary

Synonyms of barbarous

54 similar words

Another word for barbarous is brutal. Other synonyms of barbarous are fell, savage, barbarian, barbaric and malicious.

Synonyms and similar words for barbarous

adjectiveUncivilized, uncultured.

  • barbaricOf or relating to a barbarian; uncivilized, uncultured or uncouth.
  • savageBarbaric; not civilized.
  • animalisticIn the behaviour of an animal savage; untamed.
  • barbarianRelating to people, countries, or customs perceived as uncivilized or inferior.
  • brutalSavagely violent, vicious, ruthless, or cruel, often in an unintelligent manner.
  • brutishBestial; lacking human sensibility.
  • Gothic figurativelyBarbarous, rude, unpolished, belonging to the “Dark Ages”, medieval as opposed to classical.
  • GothlikeLike a Goth (ancient Teutonic); barbaric, pitilessly destructive.
  • heathenUncultured; uncivilized; savage; barbarian.
  • heathenishResembling a heathen.
  • heathenlyHeathen.
  • heathenousCharacteristic of a heathen.
  • pagan derogatorySavage, immoral, uncivilized, wild.
  • tenebrose figurativelyMorally, culturally or mentally benighted; backward; uncivilized.
  • truculentCruel or savage.
  • uncivilNot civilized.
  • uncivilizedCrude, barbarous, wild, uncultured.
  • uncouth
  • uncultivatedInadequately educated; lacking art or knowledge.
  • unculturedNot cultured or civilized; lacking in delicacy or refinement; philistine.
  • wolfishFierce; menacing; savage.
  • barbarious dated, literaryBarbarous, barbaric.
  • grim obsoleteFierce, cruel, furious.
  • incivil rareUncivilized, barbarous.
  • uplandish obsoleteRustic, rude, boorish; countrified, unsophisticated, or uncivilized.

adjectiveMercilessly or impudently violent or cruel, savage.

  • ruthlessWithout pity or compassion; cruel, pitiless.
  • compassionlessWithout compassion; hardhearted.
  • cruel
  • flagitious formal
  • demonic figurativelyExtremely cruel or evil; abhorrent or repugnant; diabolical.
  • diabolic figurativelyWicked; evil; cruel.
  • diabolical figurativelyExtremely wicked or cruel.
  • fellOf a strong and cruel nature; eager and unsparing; grim; fierce; ruthless; savage.
  • incessiveFierce; cruel and aggressive.
  • inhumanOf or pertaining to inhumanity and the indifferently cruel, sadistic or barbaric behavior it brings.
  • inhumane
  • maliciousIntending to do harm; characterized by spite and malice.
  • mercilessShowing no mercy; cruel and pitiless.
  • nastySpiteful, unkind.
  • nonhumaneNot humane, inhumane.
  • pitilessHaving, or showing, no pity; merciless, ruthless.
  • remorselessWithout remorse, mercy or pity.
  • rottenCruel, mean or immoral.
  • sadisticDelighting in or feeling pleasure from the pain or humiliation of others.
  • spitefulFilled with, or showing, spite; having a desire to annoy or harm.
  • unbenevolentNot benevolent.
  • unbenignNot benign; malevolent.
  • unkind
  • unmercifulNot showing mercy.
  • unpityingNot feeling or showing pity.
  • bowelless obsoleteWithout pity.
  • despiteful archaicFull of despite; expressing malice or contemptuous hate.
  • inclement obsoleteMerciless, unrelenting.
  • unpitiful archaicWithout pity; pitiless.

Meaning of barbarous

  1. adjective Not classical or pure.
  2. adjective Uncivilized, uncultured.
  3. adjective Mercilessly or impudently violent or cruel, savage.

Full definition of barbarous

barbarous in other languages

Questions about synonyms of barbarous

What is another word for barbarous?
Barbarous has 54 synonyms on Word.ws, such as brutal, fell, savage, barbarian, barbaric, malicious, ruthless and heathen.
What does barbarous mean?
Barbarous means not classical or pure.

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: barbarous (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this page: “Synonyms of barbarous.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/barbarous. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.