carnage

noun

car·​nage ˈkär-nij 

1

: the flesh of slain animals or humans

… a multitude of dogs came to feast on the carnage.

—T. B. Macaulay

2

: great and usually bloody slaughter or injury (as in battle)

the carnage of war

Synonyms of carnage

• massacre
• slaughter

Examples of carnage in a Sentence

Reporters described the highway accident as a scene of carnage.

the appalling carnage in that war-torn country requires that the outside world intervene

Recent Examples on the Web

The size and speed of the Gen 4 car on the circuit used in January might create either carnage or a Monaco-like parade without the Monaco glitz. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026

The most shocking of the weekend’s carnage was the mass drive-by shooting at a large Juneteenth gathering in Roseland on the South Side in which at least 14 were injured. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026

Jace, Daemon’s daughter Baela (Bethany Antonia) and their dragons join the Battle of the Gullet, which is turning into full-scale carnage. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 22 June 2026

For all of Jaws' carnage, nothing churns the gut quite like the death of local boy Alex Kintner, played by Jeffrey Voorhees. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 20 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from Medieval Latin carnaticum tribute consisting of animals or meat, from Latin carn-, caro — see carnal

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

carnage

noun

car·​nage ˈkär-nij 

: great destruction of life (as in battle) : slaughter