Out-herod (Verb)
Meaning
Surpass someone in cruelty or evil.
Classification
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities.
Examples
- The ruthless dictator's brutal tactics seemed to out-herod those of his predecessor, leaving many international leaders aghast.
- In the twisted tale, the main villain's coldblooded nature managed to out-herod even the cruelest characters from Shakespeare's darkest plays.
- No nation believed they could out-herod the ferocity of the regime, notorious for its ceaseless suppression of opposition.
- Their brutal conquest out-heroded all previous records of savagery in the medieval era.
- Many reviewers felt that the antagonist's brutal demeanor began to out-herod the darkness in the original story.