savaging

verb

present participle of savage
as in attacking
to criticize harshly and usually publicly book reviewers mercilessly savaged his latest novel

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 For months, the two right-wing media stars had been savaging each other on their respective platforms. — Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for savaging
  1. attacking
  2. slamming
  3. scolding
Verb
  • Electing to keep his No 5 on the field, the Brazil head coach made a subtle tactical tweak that saw Endrick enter the action and brought Matheus Cunha further to the left flank — which unlocked the attacking prowess of Vinicius Junior.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 July 2026
  • In patients with type 1 diabetes, the immune system starts attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 July 2026
Definition of attacking
Verb
  • Prosecutors allege Clay intentionally drove his car onto the sidewalk, sped toward a crowd of pedestrians and hit eight of them before slamming into a gate.
    — Jason Green, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
  • Paul has accused Mortensen in court of stalking and, on one occasion, slamming her head into the dashboard of his truck.
    — Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Definition of slamming
Verb
  • This ancient poem isn’t interested in scolding women for their sexuality, but in the establishment of honor in the elite household.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 23 June 2026
  • The princess hilariously put her little brother in his place by scolding him.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 13 June 2026
Definition of scolding

Browse Nearby Words

savages
savaging
savanna
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Cite this Entry

“Savaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/savaging. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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