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 Brundage ensures that his readers will not dismiss the record of prison atrocities.
—Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
The Buckley case spawned other loopholes from Congress and the courts over the years, directly culminating in the 2010 atrocity of the Citizens United case.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Early last month, the government cut off all internet access in an effort to conceal its criminal atrocities from the rest of the world.
—Hamid Kashani, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
The Buckley case spawned other loopholes from Congress and the courts over the years, directly culminating in the 2010 atrocity of the Citizens United case.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
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Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
The Buckley case spawned other loopholes from Congress and the courts over the years, directly culminating in the 2010 atrocity of the Citizens United case.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Early last month, the government cut off all internet access in an effort to conceal its criminal atrocities from the rest of the world.
—Hamid Kashani, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
The Buckley case spawned other loopholes from Congress and the courts over the years, directly culminating in the 2010 atrocity of the Citizens United case.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 Feb. 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 14 Feb. 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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