barbarity

/bɑːˈbærəti/ (bre, ipa) · /bɑːrˈbærəti/ (ame, ipa) · /bär-ˈber-ə-tē -ˈba-rə-/ (ame, mw)

barbarity — noun

  • barbaritysingular
  • barbaritiesplural

1. Extremely cruel and violent behaviour, or a single shocking act of this kind.

1.名詞B2
釋義

Extremely cruel and violent behaviour, or a single shocking act of this kind.

例句

The barbarity of the attack left even the experienced detectives shaken.

barbarity + of-phrase for cruel events

Farouk testified about the barbarities he witnessed in the refugee camp.

barbarities (plural) for specific cruel acts

同義詞
  • atrocity

    more formal; typically refers to large-scale wicked acts, especially war crimes

  • savagery

    emphasizes wild, animal-like violence with no restraint

  • brutality

    focuses on physical force and the deliberate infliction of pain

反義詞
  • humanity

    the quality of being kind, compassionate, and civilized

  • compassion

    sympathetic concern for the suffering of others

用法筆記

Used as both an uncountable noun (describing a general quality of extreme cruelty) and a countable noun (referring to specific cruel deeds, often in the plural barbarities).

常見錯誤

❌Not holding the door open is such barbarity.
✅Not holding the door is rude, not barbarity.
💡barbarity is extreme cruelty, not a minor discourtesy.
❌The teacher's strict rules were a barbarity.
✅The teacher's strict rules were harsh, but calling them barbarity exaggerates.
💡reserve barbarity for shocking, savage acts.