barbarity

noun

bar·​bar·​i·​ty bär-ˈber-ə-tē How to pronounce barbarity (audio)
-ˈba-rə-
plural barbarities
1
2
a
: barbarous cruelty : inhumanity
b
: an act or instance of such cruelty

Examples of barbarity in a Sentence

The barbarity of the attack was horrifying. The photos vividly capture the war's barbarity. He is accused of inflicting unimaginable barbarities on his own people.
Recent Examples on the Web Although the horrific experience of the Holocaust stands alone in its barbarity and enormity, the looting and destruction of artworks throughout occupied Ukraine by Russian forces today is a means of erasing Ukrainian culture and identity. Howard N. Spiegler, Fortune Europe, 23 Feb. 2024 This represents all the barbarity of the Hamas attack, which must be punished. Greg Wehner, Fox News, 30 Oct. 2023 Many say they were galvanized by the barbarity of Hamas’s attack. Alex Horton, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023 After the jihadist barbarities of October 7, Israel responded with aerial bombardments of Hamas havens in Gaza, in preparation for the now-ongoing ground invasion. Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 25 Nov. 2023 This is how United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken -- in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu -- described some of the photographic evidence of the barbarity that Hamas recently inflicted on the Israeli people. Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review, 16 Oct. 2023 This shows the full barbarity behind the Hamas attack – who must be held accountable. Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 30 Oct. 2023 The National Historical Museum has updated texts to emphasize the barbarity of slavery. Marina Dias, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2023 Just as the international community developed and adopted the Geneva Conventions after the barbarity of World War II, the Pentagon created policies to protect civilians at least in part as a response to its failures in places such as Mosul and Raqqa. Sarah Yager, Foreign Affairs, 18 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'barbarity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of barbarity was in 1566

Dictionary Entries Near barbarity

Cite this Entry

“Barbarity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbarity. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

barbarity

noun
bar·​bar·​i·​ty bär-ˈbar-ət-ē How to pronounce barbarity (audio)
plural barbarities
1
2
b
: a cruel act

More from Merriam-Webster on barbarity

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