savage

I UK [ˈsævɪdʒ] / US adjective *

1)

a) cruel and unpleasant or violent

a savage attack/beating/murder

A savage look flitted across his face.

She took a savage pleasure in pointing out their mistakes.

b) a savage animal is likely to attack you

2) extremely severe

savage cuts in public services

Losing his job had been a savage blow.

3) criticizing someone or something very much

She wrote a savage review of the book.

a savage attack on the government's policies

4) old-fashioned an insulting way of describing someone or something from a culture that is not considered to be advanced. This is now considered offensive.

Derived words:
savagely
adverb

She was savagely attacked in her own home.

savageness
noun uncountable
II UK [ˈsævɪdʒ] / US verb [transitive]
Word forms "savage":
present tense I/you/we/they savage he/she/it savages present participle savaging past tense savaged past participle savaged

1) to criticize someone or something severely

Smith's play was savaged by the critics.

2) if an animal savages someone, it attacks them and injures or kills them

A jogger was savaged by two Rottweilers yesterday.

III UK [ˈsævɪdʒ] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "savage":
singular savage plural savages

1) someone who is cruel and violent

2) old-fashioned an insulting word for someone from a culture that is not considered to be advanced. This is now considered offensive.