as in barbarian
not civilized
unfairly branded as uncivilized by European explorers, they had created a culture that was actually quite advanced
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Recent Examples of uncivilized
Under the Omanis, Zanzibar grew rich selling spices, ivory, and slaves, mostly non-Muslims from the interior, whom the island’s élites derided as washenzi, or uncivilized.
—
Julian Lucas,
The New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2022
Forcing a woman to choose between jail and carrying her rapist's baby is uncivilized and medieval.
—
CNN,
27 June 2022
There is no doubt uncivilized — and sometimes violent — acts have taken place in school bathrooms.
—
Globe Staff,
BostonGlobe.com,
26 June 2022
Sure, the song (apparently written about writer Quentin Crisp) is just about the alienating sense of being an outsider, of having people judge you for your accent or aspiring to civility in an uncivilized land.
—
Daniel Fienberg,
The Hollywood Reporter,
22 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for uncivilized
Julian Lucas,
The New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2022
Forcing a woman to choose between jail and carrying her rapist's baby is uncivilized and medieval.
—
CNN,
27 June 2022
There is no doubt uncivilized — and sometimes violent — acts have taken place in school bathrooms.
—
Globe Staff,
BostonGlobe.com,
26 June 2022
Sure, the song (apparently written about writer Quentin Crisp) is just about the alienating sense of being an outsider, of having people judge you for your accent or aspiring to civility in an uncivilized land.
—
Daniel Fienberg,
The Hollywood Reporter,
22 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for uncivilized
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uncivilized
Adjective
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Language would have been a part of the divide between Roman and barbarian.
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For the design of the barbarian figure, Sweet reached out to Mark Taylor, an artist and designer at Mattel.
Adjective
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Due Amici brings Brooklyn roots and authenticity, right down to the counter service that’s not rude but not exactly warm.
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It’s widely considered rude and annoying when people cluster by the train doors if there are more people on the platform attempting to get on.
Adjective
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The Yellow Death has disfigured the population, and soldiers in white-and-red tunics serve the savage Duke of Tviot.
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Josefowicz, in her decathlon of a performance, brought Ligeti’s savage discontinuities to the surface.
Adjective
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The Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department advised anyone bitten or scratched by a bat or other wild animal to promptly clean the wound with soap and water, then contact a physician or go to the emergency room.
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And, speaking of wild, each team had a Max Muncy playing third base and batting seventh.
Adjective
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SpudCell is still primitive, most closely resembling a bacterium.
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While primitive in appearance, the arms kept the device relatively secure on my neck.
Adjective
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The chaos in Ithaca may be political and ethical—a violation of custom—but stretches of the poem are barbarous and wild, beyond civilized life altogether.
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Seeking to eliminate Berber forces in the barren mountains of northern Morocco, seven soldiers obediently follow their fanatical sergeant (Víctor Clavijo) into barbarous depths of depravity.
Adjective
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The entire barbaric Ukraine adventure will look like a catastrophe.
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In the film, which was based on a Pulitzer Prize nominated memoir, Betty escapes the clutches of her barbaric Iranian husband (played by Alfred Molina) and courageously smuggles herself and her daughter out of Iran.
Cite this Entry
“Uncivilized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uncivilized. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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