savage

B2 · Upper Intermediate Literary

adj. wild and not controlled by people.

adj. existing in a natural state; not domesticated or cultivated.

Español:salvaje

“The explorers were amazed by the savage beauty of the mountains.”

“The landscape remained a savage wilderness, untouched by the industrial expansion that had transformed the rest of the continent.”

C1 · Advanced Slang · Informal

adj. used to describe someone who is very honest or rude in a funny, confident way.

adj. denoting a person or remark that is audaciously blunt, disrespectful, or sarcastic in a way that commands respect or amusement.

“That was a savage comeback; he didn't know what to say.”

“Her response to the critic was absolutely savage, effectively ending the debate with a single, perfectly timed insult.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic · Formal

n. an old, very offensive word for people who live in a simple way without modern technology.

n. a historically derogatory term for members of indigenous or non-industrialized societies; now considered highly offensive in most contexts.

“In old books, explorers often called the local people savages.”

“The colonial-era diary frequently refers to the native inhabitants as savages, reflecting the prejudiced attitudes of the time.”