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
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Recent Examples of atrocity
Raymond says human rights investigators repeatedly believed atrocities would force action, and the world to pay attention.
—
Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 15 Apr. 2026
Most of the latest atrocities have been blamed on the Rapid Support Forces and their Janjaweed allies — Arab militias that were notorious for atrocities in the early 2000s against people identifying as East or Central African in Darfur.
—Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Firsthand accounts make the tragedy real and drive home the importance of preventing such an atrocity from ever happening again.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Most of the latest atrocities have been blamed on the RSF and their Janjaweed allies — Arab militias that were notorious for atrocities in the early 2000s against people identifying as East or Central African in Darfur.
—ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 15 Apr. 2026
Most of the latest atrocities have been blamed on the Rapid Support Forces and their Janjaweed allies — Arab militias that were notorious for atrocities in the early 2000s against people identifying as East or Central African in Darfur.
—Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Firsthand accounts make the tragedy real and drive home the importance of preventing such an atrocity from ever happening again.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Most of the latest atrocities have been blamed on the RSF and their Janjaweed allies — Arab militias that were notorious for atrocities in the early 2000s against people identifying as East or Central African in Darfur.
—ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrocity
Noun
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The project is directed by the late Jeffrey Primm, a lifelong film and horror fan who had long set out to make a feature in the genre.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The former plantation rejects the rosy antebellum view, focusing instead on slavery’s horrors.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
21 Apr. 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
-
This action demonstrates the president’s monumental cruelty, total lack of empathy and compassion, pathological narcissism, boundless vengefulness, abysmal ignorance and glaring immaturity.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
An animal cruelty investigation was also initiated in Denton County due to the living conditions observed involving both individuals and animals.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 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
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Yet, while Munro’s denial was a horrible violence, Fremlin’s deplorable acts were the original brutality.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Nominations in the news, public service and radio/podcast categories span networks, from PBS to ABC and NBC News, with topics ranging from the Los Angeles wildfires to the war in Gaza, immigration and police brutality.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The relative excitement around the Rockies having arrived in San Diego at 6-6 is a reaction based on their relative awfulness.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
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And to the abject awfulness of such robber barons as Misters Carnegie, Gould, and Frick.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 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 23 Apr. 2026.
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