Savage vs Vicious

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Savage

Informal Top 3,000 (common)

Vicious

Formal Top 2,000 (common) C1 adjective

Most formal: Vicious Most common: Vicious

	Savage	Vicious
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //ˈsæv.ɪdʒ// 🇺🇸 //ˈsæv.ɪdʒ//	🇬🇧 //ˈvɪʃəs// 🇺🇸 //ˈvɪʃəs//
Meaning	Very violent or cruel, or wild and untamed.	Very cruel or violent.
Example	The reviewer gave a savage critique of the movie.	The vicious storm caused widespread destruction.
Register	Informal	Formal
How common	Top 3,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	-	C1
Part of speech		adjective
Collocations	savage attack, savage criticism, savage behavior, savage wilderness, savage insult	vicious attack, vicious circle, vicious behavior
Antonyms	gentle, tame, civilized	gentle, kind, mild
Common mistakes	Confused with 'savage' as a compliment instead of a negative description., Incorrectly using 'savage' as a verb., Using 'savage' in formal writing.	Confused with 'malicious', which implies intent to harm., Using 'vicious' to describe mild behavior, which is too strong a term., Omitting 'vicious' when describing intense emotions or actions.
Usage notes	Used informally to describe harsh or aggressive behavior. Often seen in slang for fierce criticism or wildness. Not typically used in formal contexts.	Use 'vicious' to describe harmful actions or characteristics. It is more formal and less common in everyday speech.

See it in real clips

Game Of Thrones › S1 E1

He's a savage, of course, but he's one of the finest killers alive.

Savage

Sherlock › S1 E1

Love is a much more vicious motivator.

Peaky Blinders › S1 E1

The vicious, merciless gangs

Sherlock › S1 E1

Love is a much more vicious motivator.

Peaky Blinders › S1 E1

The vicious, merciless gangs

Vicious

Frequently asked questions: Savage vs Vicious

What's the difference between Savage and Vicious?

Savage: Very violent or cruel, or wild and untamed. Vicious: Very cruel or violent.

Which is more formal: Savage and Vicious?

Vicious is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Savage and Vicious?

Vicious is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Savage: The reviewer gave a savage critique of the movie. Vicious: The vicious storm caused widespread destruction.

Can I use Savage and Vicious interchangeably?

Not always. Savage and Vicious are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.