savage
savage — adjective
1. A savage animal, attack, or natural event is extremely violent and out of contro
A savage animal, attack, or natural event is extremely violent and out of control, causing harm or damage without any restraint.
The hikers heard savage howls coming from the forest after dark.
savage howls — describing wild animal sounds
A savage storm destroyed dozens of homes along the coast last winter.
savage storm — extreme weather event
The film contains scenes of savage fighting that are unsuitable for young children.
Two rival groups fought a savage battle in the abandoned factory yard.
The documentary showed the savage treatment of prisoners in the war camp.
常見錯誤
2. A savage remark, review, criticism, or punishment is extremely harsh and meant t
A savage remark, review, criticism, or punishment is extremely harsh and meant to hurt someone's feelings or reputation.
The critic wrote a savage review, calling the new play a complete waste of time.
savage review — harsh public criticism of creative work
Indra received savage comments from her boss about the report she wrote overnight.
The magazine published a savage attack on the government's new education policy.
Baraka's savage criticism of his teammate's performance made the atmosphere in the changing room unbearable.
The head teacher imposed a savage punishment on students who cheated in the final exam.
用法筆記
Typically describes written or spoken criticism, reviews, punishments, or remarks. Less common for physical actions in this sense.
常見錯誤
3. Used to describe something that is much larger or more severe than usual — for e
Used to describe something that is much larger or more severe than usual — for example, a sudden sharp rise in prices, a deep cut in spending, or a steep tax increase.
The company announced savage cuts to its workforce, laying off more than two thousand employees.
savage cuts — extreme reductions in staff or budget
Households are facing savage increases in energy bills this winter, with some prices doubling.
savage increases — extreme price rises
The government imposed savage tax rises on luxury goods to reduce the national debt.
The hospital faced savage budget reductions that forced it to close two of its wards.
用法筆記
Almost always used before nouns like cuts, increase, reductions, or rises — describing extreme financial or policy measures whose scale shocks people.
常見錯誤
4. An old-fashioned and offensive word used to describe people, communities, or cus
An old-fashioned and offensive word used to describe people, communities, or customs that the speaker considers to be at a simple, undeveloped stage of civilisation. Greatly offensive today and no longer used in respectable writing.
The explorer's diary called the Indigenous people 'savages' — a deeply offensive term today.
offensive term — historical usage note
Historians now reject the idea that any culture can be called savage compared to another.
now rejected by modern scholarship
An old textbook chapter called 'Savage Customs' shocks and offends modern readers.
Anthropologists no longer call any human society savage in their academic work.
用法筆記
This sense is labelled old-fashioned and offensive. Modern alternatives include 'indigenous', 'traditional', 'non-industrial', or 'pre-literate'. Never use this sense in contemporary writing or speech.
常見錯誤
savage — verb
1. When a dangerous animal savages a person or another creature, it launches a sudd
When a dangerous animal savages a person or another creature, it launches a sudden, ferocious assault that causes severe wounds or death.
The stray dog savaged a child who came too close to its hiding place.
active voice: animal savages person
A wild boar savaged two hikers before park rangers managed to drive it away.
The farmer's sheep were savaged by a pack of wolves overnight.
The zookeeper was savaged by a lion after she accidentally left the enclosure gate unlocked.
In the documentary, a crocodile savages a wildebeest that came too close to the river.
文法句型
savage + person/animal
be savaged by + animal
用法筆記
The subject of this verb is almost always a wild or dangerous animal. Though informal slang uses 'savage' to mean 'criticise harshly', this is non-standard and not appropriate for formal writing.
常見錯誤
savage — noun
1. An old-fashioned, offensive word for a person from a culture that the speaker vi
An old-fashioned, offensive word for a person from a culture that the speaker views as less developed or less advanced. Widely considered racist and not used in modern, respectful writing.
The 1920s novel calls the islanders 'savages' — a term now considered deeply offensive.
historical literary usage — now considered offensive
Colonial writers described local people as savages, revealing more about their own prejudice.
A 1950s children's book used the phrase 'friendly savage', a stereotype later removed from print.
Early European travel journals called every non-European society 'savage'.
用法筆記
This sense is considered offensive and racist. Use neutral terms such as 'indigenous community', 'traditional society', or 'native people' instead. Never use this word to describe a living culture.
常見錯誤
2. A person who behaves in an extremely cruel, violent way, without any human feeli
A person who behaves in an extremely cruel, violent way, without any human feeling or mercy.
The dictator was a savage who ordered the execution of thousands of innocent people.
savage — a ruler who acts without mercy
The film shows the pirate captain as a savage with no mercy for his victims.
The official report described the prison guards as savages who enjoyed beating inmates.
Owen called the gang members savages in his statement to the police after the attack.
- gentle soul
a kind, caring person
- humanitarian
someone who actively works to help others
用法筆記
This sense does NOT carry the same racial connotation as noun/sense 1 — it focuses on a person's cruel character or behaviour rather than their cultural background.