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
What if the atrocities amount to genocide?
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
So much atrocity, so much terror is unbearable.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
While the Holocaust Museum highlights past atrocities, mass violence and persecution continue to unfold.
—Kelly Haramis, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
In other conflicts in the Middle East, dozens of such atrocities occurred in just a few hours of fighting.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
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Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
So much atrocity, so much terror is unbearable.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
While the Holocaust Museum highlights past atrocities, mass violence and persecution continue to unfold.
—Kelly Haramis, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
In other conflicts in the Middle East, dozens of such atrocities occurred in just a few hours of fighting.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 3 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 9 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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