BARBARITY Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

barbarity

noun

bär-ˈber-ə-tē

Definition of barbarity

as in cruelty

disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others more than one reluctant dental patient has been tempted to level the charge of barbarity against their dentist

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of barbarity The Emperor’s battle arena, for example, is a marvel of moody set design, its barbarity brought to life by the throngs of people crowding to watch the action from atop its grated roof. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 22 Apr. 2026 Even when there is little to celebrate in a world marked by barbarity, these events invite us to be together and, briefly, to look, feel, admire, and even disagree within a temporary gathering of images and spaces. — Raphael Fonseca, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026 Thousands of children have been terrorized, detained, and many have been deported because of ICE’s unchecked barbarity. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026 Cathy escapes, the Jimmies' numbers are diminished, and the stomach-churning barbarity finally comes to an end. — Megan McCluskey, Time, 16 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for barbarity

Recent Examples of Synonyms for barbarity

Noun

Christopher Stefanou of Long Island is charged with animal cruelty and breaking rules about shark fishing, Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois said Wednesday.

— Neal Riley, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Florida House Bill 559 recently created new guidelines to address animal cruelty across the state, including by allowing municipalities to increase fines and penalties.

— Joshua Ceballos, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of cruelty

Noun

Dupuy-Spencer had a reputation for clear-eyed renderings of both the tenderness and the brutality of our world; here, darker forces prevail.

— Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
However, Gates, who resigned in the wake of the 1992 LA Riots, was also viewed as leaving a legacy of police brutality and racial tension.

— Tom Wait, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of brutality

Browse Nearby Words

barbarism

barbarity

barbarous

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“Barbarity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barbarity. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of barbarity

noun

Example Sentences

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