savagesav‧age1 /ˈsævɪdʒ/ ●○○ adjective 
a savage dog a savage murder► see thesaurus at violent2criticizing criticizing someone or something very severely OPP mild: a savage attack on the government3severe very severe: The government has announced savage cuts in spending. a savage storm4people [only before noun] old-fashioned not polite an offensive word used to describe people who have a simple traditional way of life: · a savage tribe—savagely adverb: He was savagely attacked and beaten.—savageness noun [uncountable]
WORD ORIGINsavage1
Origin:
1200-1300 Old French sauvage, from Medieval Latin salvaticus, from Latin silvaticus ‘of the woods, wild’, from silva ‘forest’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- savage tax increases
- a savage warrior
- At night, packs of savage dogs roamed the streets.
- Daniels was found dead in his apartment, the victim of a savage beating.
- Fussell described the war as 'appallingly cruel and savage.'
- Police are hunting the savage killer of five men in South London.
- There was savage fighting in and around the eastern border towns.
- They caught the monkey, but it was so savage that no one could get near enough to feed it.
THESAURUS
using force to hurt or kill people – used about people, crimes etc. Also used about films or books that contain a lot of violence: · a violent man who couldn’t control his temper· the increase in violent crime· The film is too violent to be shown to children.
violent and dangerous, and seeming to enjoy hurting people for no reason: · a vicious attack on an unarmed man· We were surrounded by a gang of vicious thugs, armed with knives.
using force or violence, but not causing serious injury: · Some of the boys were being a bit rough with the younger kids.· There were complaints about rough treatment by the police.
behaving in a way that is very cruel and violent, and showing no pity: · Idi Amin was a brutal dictator.· a particularly brutal murder· The prison guards were brutal and corrupt.
attacking people in a particularly cruel way – used about people and fighting, especially in news reports: · a savage killer· There was savage fighting in the capital Mogadishu.
a bloody battle or war is very violent and a lot of people are killed or injured: · a bloody civil war· The Russians were engaged in a bloody battle against the German army.
a ferocious attack or battle is extremely violent. Also used about animals that are likely to attack in a very violent way: · The two armies fought a ferocious battle.· a ferocious beast· It was the most ferocious attack I have ever seen.
a fierce animal or person looks frightening and likely to attack people: · A fierce dog stood growling at the gate.· Bears are always fierce when they have young.· fierce bodyguards
a bloodthirsty person enjoys watching violence. A bloodthirsty story contains a lot of violent scenes: · In Mexico, humans were sacrificed to bloodthirsty gods.· a bloodthirsty tale of revenge
showing or describing injuries, blood, death etc clearly and in detail: · a gory horror movie· The book was too gory for many readers.
Longman Language Activatorpeople and their behaviour someone who is violent attacks people physically, especially because this is part of their character. A violent action involves physical attacks on people: · My father was a violent man who couldn't control his temper.· There was a violent protest outside the court, and a police officer was injured.violent crime: · Everyone is worried about the increase in violent crime.turn violent (=suddenly start to behave violently): · Travellers to the country have been urged to avoid large crowds, which have occasionally turned violent in the past.
very cruel and violent, and without any pity: · The police are searching for the brutal attacker of a 98-year-old woman.· Some of the prison guards were brutal and corrupt.· a brutal dictatorbrutal murder/attack/killing etc: · Carter was jailed for the brutal murder of a young mother of three.
someone who is aggressive behaves in an angry way, and seems to want to fight or argue, often when this is a part of their character: · Some of the crowd were very aggressive, shouting and banging on windows.· Kids who play violent video games show much more aggressive behaviour than those who don't.
someone who is vicious is violent and dangerous and seems to enjoy hurting people for no reason: · We found ourselves surrounded by a gang of vicious young thugs, armed with belts, sticks and stones.· "It was a particularly vicious crime," a police spokesman said.vicious attack/assault : · Apparently the girl was the victim of a vicious sex attack.
hurting people in a particularly cruel way: · Police are hunting the savage killer of five men in South London.· There was savage fighting in and around the eastern border towns.· Fussell described the war as 'appallingly cruel and savage.'
a ferocious attack or fight is extremely violent: · It was one of the most ferocious attacks on prison officers I have ever seen.· Defence lawyers claimed that the shooting was a spontaneous reaction, ferocious, but not part of a plan.
using force or violence but not causing serious injury: · Some of the boys were being a bit rough with the younger kids.rough treatment/handling: · The hostages received some rough treatment during their long period of captivity.· The police have been criticized for their rough handling of the demonstrators.
animals a fierce animal looks very frightening and is ready to attack people: · The dog was standing at the gate, looking fierce and growling.· Swans are always fierce in defence of their young.
a vicious animal is likely to attack and cause injury, often suddenly and for no reason: · Keep away from that horse -- he can be vicious.· Rottweilers are vicious dogs, far too dangerous to have as pets.
violent in a completely uncontrolled way, and always ready to attack: · They caught the monkey, but it was so savage that no one could get near enough to feed it.· At night, packs of savage dogs roamed the streets.
violent and frighteningly powerful, and so able to cause great harm: · The tiger is a ferocious beast which has already killed ten villagers.· These bears look ferocious, but attacks by them are extremely rare.
WORD SETSclansman, nounclanswoman, nounculturally, adverbculture, noundemography, noun-ese, suffixethnic, adjectiveethnography, nounethnology, nounfirst generation, nounintermarry, verbinterracial, adjectivekinship, nounmegalith, nounnative, adjectiveneanderthal, nounNeanderthal man, nounNeolithic, adjectivenomad, nounorientalist, nounpeace pipe, nounprimitive, adjectiveprimordial, adjectivepygmy, nounracial, adjectivesavage, adjectivesavage, nounsettlement, nounsettler, nountaboo, adjectivetotem, nountotem pole, nountribal, adjectivetribalism, nountribe, nountribesman, nountribeswoman, nountroglodyte, nounwampum, nounwar dance, nounwar paint, nounwhite, adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a biting satire of the television industry
1violent very violent or cruel SYN vicious: a biting satire of the television industry a savage dog a savage murder► see thesaurus at violent2criticizing criticizing someone or something very severely OPP mild: a savage attack on the government3severe very severe: The government has announced savage cuts in spending. a savage storm4people [only before noun] old-fashioned not polite an offensive word used to describe people who have a simple traditional way of life: · a savage tribe—savagely adverb: He was savagely attacked and beaten.—savageness noun [uncountable]