bar·ba·ri·za·tion
ˌbär-bə-rə-ˈzā-shən 
-ˌrī-ˈzā-
plural -s
1
: the act of making barbarous : the action of becoming barbarous
2
: the state of being barbarized
Examples of barbarize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bret Stephens New York Times, Star Tribune, 7 Aug. 2020
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.
Verb
Manners are what vex or soothe, corrupt or purify, exalt or debase, barbarize or refine us … .
—Bret Stephens New York Times, Star Tribune, 7 Aug. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Barbarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbarize. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
