SAVAGING Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

savaging

verb

present participle of savage

as in attacking

to criticize harshly and usually publicly book reviewers mercilessly savaged his latest novel

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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 savaging Also promoting Raman is the transportation advocacy group Streets for All, which has produced dozens of digital ads savaging Bass over her record on homelessness, the Palisades fire and other issues. — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 Interest groups have capitalized on those fears, savaging any politician who dares to touch senior benefits or taxes. — Jessica Riedl, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026 But the brutal attack on his girlfriend wasn’t the first time Smith had tried to stop the two pit-bull-and-Catahoua-leopard-mix dogs from savaging someone, according to an affidavit for an arrest warrant filed with the court. — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026 For months, the two right-wing media stars had been savaging each other on their respective platforms. — Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for savaging

Verb

In July, Brown pleaded guilty to a count of affray at London’s Southwark Crown Court for attacking a music producer with a tequila bottle on the head.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026
The approval of Revolution Medicines’ pancreatic cancer drug Rasonque earlier this year showed that a medicine capable of attacking mutations in a group of genes called RAS could prolong survival for patients with the particularly aggressive cancer.

— Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of attacking

Verb

The familyâs legal team filed complaints targeting Iranian officials who bankrolled Hamas, slamming the ICC for double standards and demanding arrest warrants for the regime bosses backing the atrocity.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Alex Alvarado’s political action committee is behind the texts slamming Rodriguez in an apparent effort to help Republican Attorney General James Uthmeier stay in office.

— Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of slamming

Verb

From behind a tree, Neil and Florence observed Brenda scolding little Neil.

— S. M. Reznik, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
By the time his daughter shows up, flanked by her mom and upright dentist stepdad, Lee’s moved on from scolding the room to thanking his mother for believing him.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of scolding

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savages

savaging

savanna

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

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Synonyms of savaging

verb

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