Barbaric/bɑːrˈbærɪk/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Negative Emotion Words like 'barbaric' carry strong negative feelings and should be used carefully. He received a barbaric sentence that shocked the community. Pro Tip 2/3Emphasis on Cruelty 'Barbaric' is often used to stress the extreme cruelty or inhumanity of an action. The movie depicted the barbaric nature of the conflict. Pro Tip 3/3Not for Mild Badness Do not use 'barbaric' for mild forms of bad behavior; it is reserved for extreme cases. The barbaric conditions in the prison were deplorable.