Synonyms of atrocity

atrocity

noun

ə-ˈträ-sə-tē 

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

• horror
• dreadfulness
• awfulness
• frightfulness
• gruesomeness
• ghastliness
• hideousness
• repulsiveness
• horridness
• atrociousness
• fearfulness
• agony
• grisliness
• torture
• badness
• evil
• sinfulness
• monstrosity
• heinousness
• anguish
• misery
• vileness
• wickedness
• baseness
• viciousness
• immorality
• evilness
• depravity
• invidiousness
• foulness
• hatefulness
• loathsomeness
• iniquity
• ungodliness
• ghoulishness
• torment
• scariness
• ghostliness
• eeriness
• creepiness
• fearsomeness
• hellishness
• depravedness
• diabolicalness
• iniquitousness
• despicableness
• execrableness
• accursedness
• cursedness
• deplorableness
• detestableness
• reprehensibleness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pleasantness
• agreeableness
• appeal
• attraction
• desirability
• delightfulness
• pleasurableness
• attractiveness
• allurement
• desirableness

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

• badness
• sinfulness
• evilness
• vileness
• heinousness
• corruption
• wickedness
• hideousness
• enormity
• depravity
• atrociousness
• notoriety
• monstrosity
• depravedness
• diabolicalness
• baseness
• fiendishness
• immorality
• decadence
• devilishness
• degeneracy
• hellishness
• infamy
• execrableness
• accursedness
• cursedness
• pervertedness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• goodness
• righteousness
• morality
• purity
• virtuousness
• innocence
• chasteness

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

• cruelty
• brutality
• barbarity
• savagery
• inhumanity
• savageness
• sadism
• murderousness
• heartlessness
• fiendishness
• cruelness
• viciousness
• barbarousness
• inhumanness
• atrociousness
• wantonness
• truculence
• ruthlessness
• mercilessness
• ferocity
• pitilessness
• oppressiveness
• grimness
• meanness
• malevolence
• bloodthirstiness
• ferociousness
• unfeelingness
• fierceness
• bloodlust
• spitefulness
• hatefulness
• maliciousness
• malignity
• hard-heartedness
• sanguinity
• fellness
• harshness
• sanguineness
• despitefulness
• nastiness
• heavy-handedness
• cattiness
• hardhandedness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sympathy
• humanity
• compassion
• kindness
• humaneness
• benignity
• tenderness
• warmth
• pity
• tenderheartedness
• warmness
• kindheartedness
• mercy
• good-heartedness
• leniency
• clemency
• warmheartedness
• charitableness
• mercifulness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of atrocity

Comparing the administration's fight to protect women and women's spaces from males to rape, is utterly disgusting and actually devalues those atrocities and crimes against actual women. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

The state and town have made efforts to atone for the atrocities over the past centuries. — Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026

In a flowing, ice-blond wig, Ashford’s character spins an escalating series of imperial atrocities. — Mariah Kreutter, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2026

The Monitor's View This year’s award went to a South African jurist who not only reshaped international law but also says her inspiration came from survivors of atrocities who never gave up their dignity. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Oct. 2026