hecatomb
noun
hec·a·tomb
ˈhe-kə-ˌtōm 
1
: an ancient Greek and Roman sacrifice of 100 oxen or cattle
2
: the sacrifice or slaughter of many victims
Examples of hecatomb in a Sentence
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The vast majority of this hecatomb would be people with limited life expectancies.
—
John P.a. Ioannidis,
STAT,
17 Mar. 2020
After the hecatombs created in communism’s name, such a call to arms is evidence of a faith untroubled when prophecy fails again and again.
—
Andrew Stuttaford,
WSJ,
29 Sep. 2017
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John P.a. Ioannidis,
STAT,
17 Mar. 2020
After the hecatombs created in communism’s name, such a call to arms is evidence of a faith untroubled when prophecy fails again and again.
—
Andrew Stuttaford,
WSJ,
29 Sep. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Hecatomb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hecatomb. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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