barbarous

IPA/ˈbɑːbərəs/
KK[bˈɑrbɚəs]IPA/ˈbɑːrbərəs/

barbarous — 形容詞

  • barbarouspositive
  • more barbarouscomparative
  • most barbaroussuperlative

1. very cruel and violent in a way that shocks people, or showing no education, goo

1.形容詞C1
釋義

野蠻的

指行為殘酷暴力或缺乏文明教養

very cruel and violent in a way that shocks people, or showing no education, good manners, or the kind of culture expected in modern society.

例句

The warlord's barbarous attack on the farming village left fifty families homeless.

那名軍閥對農村發動了野蠻的攻擊，導致五十個家庭無家可歸。

collocation: barbarous attack

Abigail's grandfather insisted that eating with one's elbows on the table was a barbarous habit.

Abigail 的祖父堅持認為，吃飯時把手肘放在桌上是一種野蠻的習慣。

describes a social custom as unacceptable

同義詞
  • cruel

    more common, everyday word; focuses on causing pain without the 'uncivilised' connotation

  • savage

    similar range of meaning (both cruel and primitive), but more informal and emotionally stronger

  • brutal

    focuses on physical violence and harshness; lacks the 'lacking culture' sense

  • uncivilized

    emphasises the lack of culture/refinement rather than cruelty

反義詞
  • civilized

    opposite of both cruelty and lack of culture

  • humane

    opposite of cruelty specifically; shows kindness and compassion

文法句型

barbarous + noun (act, attack, behaviour, treatment, custom)

linking verb + barbarous (seem barbarous, find something barbarous)

用法筆記

More common in written or formal English than in casual conversation. Unlike 'cruel', which focuses only on causing pain, 'barbarous' also carries a sense of being uncivilised or lacking refinement. Context determines whether the cruelty sense or the uncultured sense is primary.

常見錯誤

❌The dictator's barbaric actions shocked the world.' (when meaning uncultured/lack of refinement)
✅The dictator's barbarous actions shocked the world.
💡'Barbaric' is more common for cruelty; 'barbarous' can also mean lacking culture or refinement, especially in formal writing.