savagery
/ˈsævɪdʒri/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsævɪdʒri/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsa-vi-jə-rē ˈsa-vij-rē/ (ame, mw)
savagery — noun
- savagerysingular
- savageriesplural
1. intentionally cruel and physically violent conduct that inflicts severe sufferin
intentionally cruel and physically violent conduct that inflicts severe suffering, such as killing, beating, or deliberately destroying property.
The documentary showed the savagery of the civil war through interviews with survivors.
savagery of + noun (the conflict or event)
Neighbours were shocked by the savagery of the attack on the elderly man.
During the civil war, Tunde witnessed acts of savagery as armed men burned his village.
The invading army was known for its savagery toward the local population.
文法句型
savagery of + noun (the conflict or event)
acts of savagery
用法筆記
Often used to describe collective violence in war or conflict. Can be countable (e.g. 'the savageries of war') when referring to specific violent acts.
常見錯誤
2. a wild, untamed, and uncontrolled quality found in nature, animals, or a person'
a wild, untamed, and uncontrolled quality found in nature, animals, or a person's character — for example, the fierce look of a wolf or the raw power of a mountain landscape.
The hikers were in awe of the savagery of the remote mountain terrain.
In his novel, the writer captured the savagery of the jungle and its wild creatures.
savagery of + natural feature
There was a strange savagery in the old wolf's eyes that made Eleni step back.
The old fisherman still spoke of the savagery of the sea during that winter storm.
文法句型
savagery of + noun (natural feature or creature)
用法筆記
This sense is more literary or descriptive than sense 1. It does not carry a moral judgement of cruelty; instead it emphasises the raw, untamed quality of something wild.