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
Peace talks are currently deadlocked, made worse by the Sudanese Armed Forces’s anger over the atrocities committed in El Fasher.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 5 Dec. 2025
Though the book largely revolves around spurious media coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza, El Akkad’s great talent is in showing how, over the past few decades, corporate journalism and western powers have undermined our ability to confront global atrocities.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
What can mass atrocities teach us about it?
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Many of the gravesites that pockmark the north and east of the country are believed to contain the victims of atrocities committed during the civil war.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 30 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 5 Dec. 2025
Though the book largely revolves around spurious media coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza, El Akkad’s great talent is in showing how, over the past few decades, corporate journalism and western powers have undermined our ability to confront global atrocities.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
What can mass atrocities teach us about it?
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Many of the gravesites that pockmark the north and east of the country are believed to contain the victims of atrocities committed during the civil war.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 30 Nov. 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 8 Dec. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share