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
Graphic videos of both atrocities spread quickly and widely online this week, appearing in people's social media feeds, often with little-to-no warning.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Critics have also pointed to the fact that Japanese educational syllabi have long glossed over wartime atrocities like the Nanjing Massacre.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
So convinced that exposing their crimes on a worldwide stage with a trial was the only way to expose the enormity of Reich atrocities and achieve closure, Jackson put at risk his fast track toward becoming Chief Justice.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025
Although familiar to many, those disturbing images are certain to bring the Holocaust into sharper focus for those who appear to have forgotten the lessons about the atrocities that the world had once vowed never again to repeat.
—Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
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Charles Trepany, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Critics have also pointed to the fact that Japanese educational syllabi have long glossed over wartime atrocities like the Nanjing Massacre.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
So convinced that exposing their crimes on a worldwide stage with a trial was the only way to expose the enormity of Reich atrocities and achieve closure, Jackson put at risk his fast track toward becoming Chief Justice.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025
Although familiar to many, those disturbing images are certain to bring the Holocaust into sharper focus for those who appear to have forgotten the lessons about the atrocities that the world had once vowed never again to repeat.
—Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Cite this Entry
“Atrocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atrocity. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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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