savage

/ˈsævɪdʒ/
verb
  1. (of an animal) to attack and bite or maul ferociously.
    • The dog savaged the intruder's leg before the owner could pull it away.
    • The lion savaged its prey in a matter of seconds.
    • A bear savaged the campsite, tearing through tents and food supplies.
  2. To criticize someone or something very harshly.
    • Her performance was savaged by the judges on the talent show.
    • The film was savaged by critics for its poor acting and weak plot.
    • The newspaper savaged the mayor's new policy in an editorial.
adjective
  1. Fierce, violent, and uncontrolled.
    • He gave his opponent a savage blow to the jaw.
    • The storm unleashed a savage wind that knocked down trees.
    • The movie contains scenes of savage fighting.
  2. Very cruel or harsh in a way that causes pain or suffering.
    • She made a savage remark about his appearance.
    • The critic wrote a savage review of the new play.
    • The dictator's savage treatment of prisoners shocked the world.
  3. Extremely severe or intense.
    • The team faced savage competition in the championship.
    • We had to endure a savage winter with record low temperatures.
    • The company made savage cuts to its budget.
  4. (informal) Very impressive or cool; awesome.
    • He made a savage dunk that won the game.
    • Her dance moves were so savage that everyone cheered.
    • That skateboard trick was absolutely savage!
noun
  1. A person who is considered to be uncivilized or primitive (often used in a historical or offensive way).
    • The explorers described the local people as savages in their journals.
    • Many old books refer to indigenous groups as savages, which is now considered offensive.
    • The character in the story was portrayed as a savage living in the jungle.
  2. A brutal or vicious person.
    • In the movie, the villain is a cold-blooded savage.
    • The gang leader was a savage who showed no mercy.
    • The prison housed some of the most dangerous savages in the country.