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

Synonyms of atrocity

• horror
• dreadfulness
• awfulness
• frightfulness

Examples 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

Officials from the United Nations – and the United States – have warned that an RSF ground attack could lead to mass atrocities, possibly on the scale of el-Fasher. — Mat Nashed, Christian Science Monitor, 21 July 2026

Break the Bonds is a national effort to end investment in Israel Bonds, financial instruments that act as unrestricted loans to the Israeli government, underwriting Israel’s atrocities in Gaza and beyond. — Danny Kaplowitz, New York Daily News, 20 July 2026

Trump officials are also planning to finance at least one organization to research crime and atrocities against minority populations in South Africa. — Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 17 July 2026

Improved monitoring and evidence, including evidence of atrocities and the use of starvation as a weapon, need to be supported if there is to be effective assistance and accountability. — Peter Hailey, The Conversation, 16 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

see atrocious

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for atrocity

• ferocity
• monstrosity
• pomposity
• porosity
• precocity
• schistosity
• velocity
• verbosity
• viscosity
• animosity
• curiosity
• generosity

Kids 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