1
as in horror
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay
the undeniable atrocity of the forced march of Cherokees known as the Trail of Tears
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in badness
the state or quality of being utterly evil
was appalled by the atrocity of Stalin's mass executions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cruelty
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others
wars often unleash a level of atrocity that would be unimaginable in peacetime
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of atrocity
Since then, millennials and Gen Zers have often resorted to dark humor and memes to discuss the atrocity, sparking occasional outrage—especially directed at the latter age group, who did not witness the horrors of the day firsthand.
—
Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has been fighting a multi-front war against pro-democracy fighters and ethnic armed groups after seizing power in 2021, with credible and widespread reports of atrocities against the people.
—Ross Adkin, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025
Who knew that combining a sweet story about an adorable penguin and one about the atrocities of a political uprising in 1976 Argentina could have such charm?
—Rosemary Rossi, Variety, 31 Mar. 2025
Just as the reports and images of atrocities committed against innocent Israelis horrifies me, the images of dead, mangled, and psychologically traumatized children haunt me as a mother and grandmother.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has been fighting a multi-front war against pro-democracy fighters and ethnic armed groups after seizing power in 2021, with credible and widespread reports of atrocities against the people.
—Ross Adkin, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025
Who knew that combining a sweet story about an adorable penguin and one about the atrocities of a political uprising in 1976 Argentina could have such charm?
—Rosemary Rossi, Variety, 31 Mar. 2025
Just as the reports and images of atrocities committed against innocent Israelis horrifies me, the images of dead, mangled, and psychologically traumatized children haunt me as a mother and grandmother.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrocity
Noun
-
Coogler transforms the faux-Faustian blues legend into an allegory of historical horror.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Free League Publishing put out an official Alien Role Playing Game in December of 2019 as part of a fresh batch of space horror games.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
There’s a great line: Honesty without compassion equals cruelty.—
Jayson Jenks,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
-
In each of these films, cruelty commingles with tenderness, and hideous acts take place against backdrops of often stunning natural beauty.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Remick is the defendant in two active police brutality lawsuits.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2025
-
Prosecutors said Mahdi constantly used brutality to solve his problems.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Atrocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrocity. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share