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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of atrocity
The Islamic Republic of Iran’s atrocities against demonstrators opposed to the regime has reportedly resulted in security forces killing at least 19 Iranian Christians, according to Article 18, an organization that promotes religious freedom in Iran.
—
Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
And Brundage ensures that his readers will not dismiss the record of prison atrocities.
—Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
Practices of metta and karuna—goodwill and compassion—are directed toward everyone without exception, even those who commit atrocities.
—Emily Chamlee-Wright, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2026
The Buckley case spawned other loopholes from Congress and the courts over the years, directly culminating in the 2010 atrocity of the Citizens United case.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
And Brundage ensures that his readers will not dismiss the record of prison atrocities.
—Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
Practices of metta and karuna—goodwill and compassion—are directed toward everyone without exception, even those who commit atrocities.
—Emily Chamlee-Wright, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2026
The Buckley case spawned other loopholes from Congress and the courts over the years, directly culminating in the 2010 atrocity of the Citizens United case.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrocity
Noun
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Crystallizing in the early ’90s at a time when American death metal was leaning into gory extremity (and the Norwegians were just actually killing people), the style offered a whimsical counterbalance to all the shock and horror.—
Sam Goldner,
Pitchfork,
17 Feb. 2026
-
An emotional mind sees horrors and fears where none exists.—
Roger Van Zanen,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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On one side, a satanic figure named Randall Flagg who gathers his forces of badness to Las Vegas; on the other, the good guys, led by 108-year-old Mother Abigail in, of all places, Boulder.—
Barbara Ellis,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
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The show premiered over Thanksgiving weekend, when people were tired and full and bored (and probably also horny), and countered our world’s unceasing badness with its world’s buoyant sweetness.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Newspaper headlines screamed that Welch had called out McCarthy for his cruelty, his ruthlessness and his lies.—
Kristen Monroe,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Call it the cruelty of small differences.—
Catherine Bray,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Denver author Josiah Hesse was raised by Evangelical parents in churches that believe in the torments of hell, that their poverty is due to their sinfulness and lack of faith.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
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This lawless crew shares dramaturgical DNA with the vice figures from medieval morality plays, personifications of sinfulness who would confide their schemes to the audience and make theatergoers their co-conspirators in a riveting game that obviously left its mark on a young Shakespeare.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The sly blend of beauty and brutality is also apparent in the film’s sound design.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The protagonist, Frannie’s, story begins in a plantation in Jamaica, the brutality of which is chillingly evoked, but by moving much of the novel’s action to London, Sara Collins helps show just how tightly interwoven Black Caribbean history is with the history of the UK.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There is no way to sugarcoat the awfulness of those months of anxiety.—
Kate Callen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Traditionally a dumping ground for films studios have no belief in, the first month of the year occasionally offers up films that stand out, whether due to memeability, genuine quality, or sheer rancid awfulness.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That was really what helped me into the character and into her evilness.—
William Earl,
Variety,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Atrocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrocity. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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