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

Permanent members’ veto power must also be strictly limited, particularly when the Security Council considers cases of mass atrocities, genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. — Pedro Sánchez, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2026

Both physicians worked at Nasser Medical Complex, saving lives amid wartime hardship and atrocities. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2026

Six of its journalists have been killed, including Anna Politkovskaya, who reported on atrocities during the second Chechen War at the start of Putin’s first term as president. — ABC News, 9 Nov. 2026

He’s been used as a symbol both of Japan’s trauma over the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and a symbol of national guilt over atrocities committed by the Japanese army during WWII. — Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 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