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barbarian Definition

bar·bar·ian (bär ber′ē ən)

noun

  1. Obsolete an alien or foreigner: in the ancient world applied esp. to non-Greeks, non-Romans, or non-Christians
  2. a member of a people or group with a civilization regarded as primitive, savage, etc.
    1. a person who lacks culture
    2. a coarse or unmannerly person; boor
  4. a savage, cruel person; brute

Etymology: < L barbarus, barbarous

adjective

of or like a barbarian; esp.,
  1. uncivilized; crude
  2. cruel; barbarous

Related Forms:

barbarian Synonyms

barbarian

modif.

  1. Uncivilized

    primitive, uncivilized, barbaric, barbarous, rude, rough, savage, coarse, uncultivated, wild, crude, uncouth; see also primitive 3.

  2. Savage

    brutal, savage, barbarous, cruel; see cruel 1, 2.

barbarian basically refers to a civilization or people regarded as primitive, either without further connotation barbarian tribes or with the implication of lack of cultivation and refinement or of brutishness; barbaric suggests crudeness and lack of restraint regarded as characteristic of primitive peoples barbaric splendor; barbarous connotes cruelty and brutality regarded as characteristic of primitive people; barbarous warfare; savage implies a more primitive civilization than barbarian and connotes great fierceness and cruelty a savage inquisition

barbarian Synonyms

barbarian

n.

  1. An uncivilized person

    savage, brute, Hun, cannibal, Goth, yahoo, Philistine, troglodyte, boor, lout, clod.

  2. A brute

    rascal, ruffian, monster; see beast 2.

  3. A foreigner

    stranger, outsider, newcomer; see alien.

barbarian Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • invade: The room had been walled up with bricks in the eleventh century to keep it from falling into the hands of invading barbarians.
  • keep: The problem Rome faced was: do we fight to keep the barbarians out, or are we prepared to make concessions?
  • call: Let me draw your attention to what might be called British barbarians at America's gate.
  • support: In a nutshell, they were barbarians supported by a positively evil catholic regime.
  • become: Does becoming poorer necessarily have to go hand-in-hand with becoming barbarians?

Preposition: at

  • gate: The barbarians at the gate The ICT lesson at the secondary school that went wrong â HELP!

Converse of subject

  • martyr: Two brothers martyred by barbarians near Evreux in France.

Adjective modifier

  • northern: Plague reduced the legions of Marcus Aurelius and northern barbarians took advantage.
  • new: The new barbarians were well and truly on the march.
  • foreign: I think Iraqi's like being killed by Iraqi's better than by foreign barbarians.
  • other: The move was started by Phil Bennett and finished by Garath Edwards but five other Barbarians handled the ball.
  • intellectual: Moreover, the term ' intellectual barbarians ' is clearly meant ironically and was certainly intended to be taken in this way.
  • savage: But now, Tonwell has been overrun by savage barbarians.

Modifies a noun

  • horde: Yet another invasion of the barbarian hordes from the north to Rome, the cradle of civilization.
  • invader: In the recent fall of Rome to the barbarian invaders, women had committed suicide to avoid rape.
  • incursion: Continuity of tax responsibilities in areas not affected by barbarian incursions.
  • tribe: Includes the invasion of the barbarian tribes in 476 which brought about Rome's decline.
  • invasion: Bishop of Turin during the barbarian invasions of the north of Italy.
  • warrior: Millennia later that rival was still alive, now a barbarian warrior named Gora.

Noun used with modifier

  • heroine: I am the very model of a heroine barbarian!
barbarian Quotes

He is a barbarian, and thinksthat the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature.

—Shaw, George Bernard