atrocity
noun
atroc·i·ty
ə-ˈträ-sə-tē 
plural atrocities
1
: a shockingly bad or atrocious act, object, or situation
the atrocities of war
2
: the quality or state of being atrocious
… the paralysing atrocity of the thought which occupied her.—
Joseph Conrad
Joseph ConradExamples of atrocity in a Sentence
Atrocities were committed by forces on both sides of the conflict.
Who could be capable of such atrocity?
Recent Examples on the Web
And finally, these discussion sessions include not only direct victims of the atrocities, but also family members of those who carried out the deeds.
—Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 19 May 2026
Various armed groups have long vied for control of the area, and have been accused of engaging in a campaign of atrocities against the Nuba and other communities there.
—Annie Hylton, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
Their willingness to film their inhumanity echoed the Nazis of the Third Reich, who likewise filmed their mass atrocities.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 14 May 2026
The Ustase, Croatia’s version of the Nazi SS, was responsible for widespread atrocities, rounding up and murdering hundreds of thousands of Jews, Serbs and Roma people.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
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Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 19 May 2026
Various armed groups have long vied for control of the area, and have been accused of engaging in a campaign of atrocities against the Nuba and other communities there.
—Annie Hylton, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
Their willingness to film their inhumanity echoed the Nazis of the Third Reich, who likewise filmed their mass atrocities.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 14 May 2026
The Ustase, Croatia’s version of the Nazi SS, was responsible for widespread atrocities, rounding up and murdering hundreds of thousands of Jews, Serbs and Roma people.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Cite this Entry
“Atrocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atrocity. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
atrocity
noun
atroc·i·ty
ə-ˈträs-ət-ē
plural atrocities
1
: the quality or state of being atrocious
2
: something that is atrocious
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