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

This plan is an atrocity deserving to be overturned — quickly. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026

Sartre wrote the essay in 1944, as people around the world were learning the extent of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust. —Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 8 May 2026

Police have been investigating Australians’ potential involvement in atrocities in Syria for more than a decade. —ABC News, 7 May 2026

The men took part in the March of the Living program, which aims to educate teenagers about the atrocities of the Holocaust. —Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 1 May 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