hecatomb

noun

hec·a·tomb | \ ˈhe-kə-ˌtōm

How to pronounce hecatomb (audio)

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Definition of hecatomb

1 : an ancient Greek and Roman sacrifice of 100 oxen or cattle

2 : the sacrifice or slaughter of many victims

Examples of hecatomb in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After the hecatombs created in communism’s name, such a call to arms is evidence of a faith untroubled when prophecy fails again and again. — Andrew Stuttaford, WSJ, "The Road to Red October," 29 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hecatomb.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Time Traveler for hecatomb

The first known use of hecatomb was circa 1592

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