English Reference
Noun

savagery

n.
C1 Advanced US /ˈsævɪˌdʒɛɹi/ UK /sˈævɪdʒɹˌi/ sav·agery UK spelling savageries

n.the quality of being very cruel, violent, or brutal. It describes actions that are shocking and lack any sense of kindness or control.

n.the quality of being extremely cruel, violent, or lacking in restraint. Often used to describe physical violence or the harshness of a natural environment.


SIMPLE

The savagery of the attack shocked the whole city.

CONTEXTUAL

The documentary exposed the savagery of the conflict, showing how civilians were treated during the war.

COMPLEX

The explorer described the savagery of the jungle, where the constant humidity and lack of clean water made survival nearly impossible for the unprepared.

Sonia Bellina's body was "abandoned" after "a murder of rare savagery", the family's lawyer says.

BBC News· 19 Aug 2026

From savage + -ry.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated