mas·sa·cre
ˈma-si-kər 
1
: the act or an instance of killing a number of usually helpless or unresisting human beings under circumstances of atrocity or cruelty
witnessed the massacre of a boatload of refugees
2
: a cruel or wanton (see wanton entry 1 sense 1a) murder
3
: a wholesale slaughter of animals
Residents engaged in a citywide cat massacre.
4
: an act of complete destruction
the author's massacre of traditional federalist presuppositions—
R. G. McCloskey
R. G. McCloskeythe Puritan massacre of statues and pictures—Robert Hughes
Robert Hughes
massacred; massacring
ˈma-si-k(ə-)riŋ
1
: to kill by massacre
2
: mangle sense 2
words were misspelled and syntax massacred—Bice Clemow
Bice ClemowSynonyms
Examples of massacre in a Sentence
Noun
The game turned out to be a complete massacre.
the infamous massacre of more than 200 Sioux at Wounded Knee, South Dakota
Verb
Hundreds have been massacred in the uprising.
The other team really massacred us on Saturday.
He really massacred that song.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 6 Feb. 2025
The plan seeks to create a level 1 trauma hospital in the area and name it after Dr. A.C. Jackson, a Black surgeon killed during the massacre.
—Russell Contreras, Axios, 4 Feb. 2025
Essence, 8 Feb. 2025
In a horrific incident in early December, at least 207 people were massacred in the capital city Port-au-Prince by the Wharf Jérémie gang.
—Azhar Fateh, Fox News, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for massacre 
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Noun
One wonders: Would teaching the Tulsa massacre be allowed?
—Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 6 Feb. 2025
The plan seeks to create a level 1 trauma hospital in the area and name it after Dr. A.C. Jackson, a Black surgeon killed during the massacre.
—Russell Contreras, Axios, 4 Feb. 2025
Verb
On November 10, Red Shirts, militiamen, and white mobs surged through Wilmington’s streets and massacred 60 or more Black men.
—Essence, 8 Feb. 2025
In a horrific incident in early December, at least 207 people were massacred in the capital city Port-au-Prince by the Wharf Jérémie gang.
—Azhar Fateh, Fox News, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for massacre
Articles Related to massacre
Dictionary Entries Near massacre
Cite this Entry
“Massacre.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/massacre. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
massacre
1 of 2 verb
mas·sa·cre
ˈmas-i-kər
massacred; massacring
-k(ə-)riŋ
: to kill in a massacre : slaughter
massacrer
noun
-i-kər-ər
-i-krər
massacre
2 of 2 noun
: the violent and cruel killing of a number of persons
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