as in slaughter
the killing of a large number of people
the infamous massacre of more than 200 Sioux at Wounded Knee, South Dakota
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as in to slaughter
to kill on a large scale
the country's rival ethnic groups began massacring one another
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Recent Examples of massacre
Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
On November 2, 1920, in the small town of Ocoee, the single deadliest Election Day massacre in modern American history unfolded.
—Debbie Deland, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
The main argument, though, was fragmentation for the sake of peace among the population - that is, for the benefit of the people being massacred by a powerful central regime, now and in years past.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for massacre
Noun
Newtown Public Schools in Connecticut received more than $6 million in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre that killed 26 people in 2012, while $3 million went to the school district in Uvalde, Texas, after a similar tragedy 10 years later.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
On November 2, 1920, in the small town of Ocoee, the single deadliest Election Day massacre in modern American history unfolded.
—Debbie Deland, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
Verb
One of them, the Luisita Golf Course and Country Club, was built over a former sugar plantation where 14 striking workers were massacred in 2004.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
The main argument, though, was fragmentation for the sake of peace among the population - that is, for the benefit of the people being massacred by a powerful central regime, now and in years past.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for massacre
Recent Examples of Synonyms for massacre
slaughter
Noun
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The slaughter law was designed to banish kosher practices, and the pets of Jews were confiscated.—
Daniel Engber,
The Atlantic,
22 Feb. 2026
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Being trained in combat, and armed with swords, spears, and bows and arrows, the gladiators were able to turn the tables on the wild beasts; the result was another predictable slaughter, in this case of the animals.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Massacre.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/massacre. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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