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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
As with some of the other atrocities addressed here, this nightmare has thankfully not come to pass for the United States.
—
Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2025
In cities and towns across Ukraine, the populace has unfortunately grown accustomed to a new normal daily routine of air raid alarms, bomb shelters and power outages, all accompanied by flying missiles, drone strikes and painfully harrowing news of the latest Russian atrocities.
—Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 22 Feb. 2025
Trump has hinted that a summit between himself and Putin, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for atrocities in Ukraine, could take place in the near future.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2025
Four years after a military coup that has morphed into a grinding civil war, experts say there is a growing mental health crisis in the Southeast Asian nation, made worse by the junta’s atrocities against civilians and a humanitarian disaster that has left more than 3 million people displaced.
—Anne Chan, NBC News, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2025
In cities and towns across Ukraine, the populace has unfortunately grown accustomed to a new normal daily routine of air raid alarms, bomb shelters and power outages, all accompanied by flying missiles, drone strikes and painfully harrowing news of the latest Russian atrocities.
—Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 22 Feb. 2025
Trump has hinted that a summit between himself and Putin, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for atrocities in Ukraine, could take place in the near future.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2025
Four years after a military coup that has morphed into a grinding civil war, experts say there is a growing mental health crisis in the Southeast Asian nation, made worse by the junta’s atrocities against civilians and a humanitarian disaster that has left more than 3 million people displaced.
—Anne Chan, NBC News, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrocity
Noun
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The video for the single captures the singer literally running away from the horrors hiding beneath the surface February 28, 2025 The new Lizzo era is here.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
28 Feb. 2025
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People need to continue to show up to town halls and political events to express their dismay and horror at the prospect of Trump and Musk demolishing social safety nets and health, safety, and economic regulation.—
Leah Litman,
TIME,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Ex-College Soccer Player Accused of Killing Fellow Athlete Brother, Cat Using Knife, Golf Club: Prosecutors He was also charged with animal cruelty for allegedly killing a cat who lived in the apartment.—
Christine Pelisek,
People.com,
25 Feb. 2025
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He is also charged with third- and fourth-degree weapons charges related to possession of a golf club and knife, as well as animal cruelty related to the death of a family cat.—
Audrey Conklin,
Fox News,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Ukrainians React: Trump’s claim that Ukraine was responsible for its war with Russia has left many Ukrainians disillusioned, including residents of Bucha, a Kyiv suburb that has become a symbol of Russian brutality.—
Chris Buckley,
New York Times,
25 Feb. 2025
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The biggest plutocrats of the first Gilded Age, for all their brutalities, played an essentially stabilizing role from behind the scenes—the Cardinal Richelieu role, the wise banker in the background.—
Adam Gopnik,
The New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Atrocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrocity. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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