1
as in horror
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay
the undeniable atrocity of the forced march of Cherokees known as the Trail of Tears
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2
as in badness
the state or quality of being utterly evil
was appalled by the atrocity of Stalin's mass executions
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3
as in cruelty
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others
wars often unleash a level of atrocity that would be unimaginable in peacetime
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of atrocity
Overall, 2024’s record of atrocities and attempts to quell them was mixed.
—
Collin J. Meisel, The Conversation, 13 Jan. 2025
These atrocities, coupled with the systematic use of physical and psychological abuse as tools of oppression, paint a grim picture of the hostages’ ordeal.
—Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 9 Jan. 2025
The port city’s inhabitants had heard of British war atrocities, as historian Ronald J. Drez told Louisiana Public Broadcasting in 2015.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2025
Non-Burman, non-Buddhist communities are marginalized, oppressed, and subjected to a campaign of violence involving a litany of atrocity crimes.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for atrocity 
Collin J. Meisel, The Conversation, 13 Jan. 2025
These atrocities, coupled with the systematic use of physical and psychological abuse as tools of oppression, paint a grim picture of the hostages’ ordeal.
—Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 9 Jan. 2025
The port city’s inhabitants had heard of British war atrocities, as historian Ronald J. Drez told Louisiana Public Broadcasting in 2015.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2025
Non-Burman, non-Buddhist communities are marginalized, oppressed, and subjected to a campaign of violence involving a litany of atrocity crimes.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for atrocity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrocity
Noun
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Out of these mixings will come magnificent horrors and amazements.—
Hillary Kelly,
The Atlantic,
3 Feb. 2025
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Having begun her acting career in 1964, Lee starred in notable stage productions of Death of a Salesman and Macbeth, K-drama The Uncanny Counter, and the 2016 horror movie Train to Busan.—
Latoya Gayle,
People.com,
3 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Ordinary Syrians like Hamed and Walaa are aghast as the scale of their criminal cruelty continues to be revealed.—
Scott Peterson,
The Christian Science Monitor,
31 Jan. 2025
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For decades, the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys, also known as the Florida School for Boys, was a place of cruelty and neglect disguised as rehabilitation.—
Ray Watford,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Jan. 2025
Noun
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There was plenty of testimony of past episodes of widespread regime brutality, such as the crushing of a Shiite uprising in 1991.—
Scott Peterson,
The Christian Science Monitor,
31 Jan. 2025
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The officer remained anonymous, identifying himself only as Caesar, but experts quickly verified his photographs—documentary proof of systematic brutality.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near atrocity
Cite this Entry
“Atrocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrocity. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
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