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 ConradSynonyms
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
These calls are tangible evidence that serves as an eternal auditory memorial to the atrocities.
—Noam Barkan, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2024
That’s what a great doc does every once in a blue moon: opens the public’s eyes to normalized atrocities and turns the tides toward a better future.
—Tomris Laffly, EW.com, 10 July 2024
While the folk scene happening in Greenwich Village at places like the Gaslight and the Bitter End in the ‘60s provided a more mellow kind of protest to the atrocities happening in the world, New York City was being invaded by artists with a louder, much more dramatic way of protesting.
—Charles Moss, SPIN, 8 July 2024
Colombian tourists moved somberly through galleries displaying portraits of politicians, policemen and ordinary citizens killed in car bombings and crossfire, and yellowing newspaper clippings and magazine covers documenting Escobar’s atrocities.
—Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for atrocity 
Noam Barkan, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2024
That’s what a great doc does every once in a blue moon: opens the public’s eyes to normalized atrocities and turns the tides toward a better future.
—Tomris Laffly, EW.com, 10 July 2024
While the folk scene happening in Greenwich Village at places like the Gaslight and the Bitter End in the ‘60s provided a more mellow kind of protest to the atrocities happening in the world, New York City was being invaded by artists with a louder, much more dramatic way of protesting.
—Charles Moss, SPIN, 8 July 2024
Colombian tourists moved somberly through galleries displaying portraits of politicians, policemen and ordinary citizens killed in car bombings and crossfire, and yellowing newspaper clippings and magazine covers documenting Escobar’s atrocities.
—Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for atrocity
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'atrocity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Atrocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atrocity. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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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