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
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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
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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
For example, avoiding deep cleaning areas of your home can lead to worsening build-up of soap scum, bacteria, and other accumulating atrocities that can damage surfaces, bedding, plumbing, and even your appliances.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 13 Jan. 2026
The approach has been used by schools and juvenile and criminal justice systems, as well as nations grappling with large-scale atrocities.
—Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 13 Jan. 2026
In Hollywood, Star 80 wasn’t treated as a failure; was treated as an atrocity.
—Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
John and Pam Hughes called it an atrocity.
—Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 13 Jan. 2026
The approach has been used by schools and juvenile and criminal justice systems, as well as nations grappling with large-scale atrocities.
—Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 13 Jan. 2026
In Hollywood, Star 80 wasn’t treated as a failure; was treated as an atrocity.
—Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
John and Pam Hughes called it an atrocity.
—Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrocity
Noun
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As America watched, awe turned to horror as the shuttle broke apart 73 seconds after liftoff because of a rupture in one of its solid-fuel boosters, killing everyone on board.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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The film plays on the real-life horrors of conversion therapy and stars Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen, Jeremy Blewitt, Ewen Leslie, Davida McKenzie, Nicholas Hope, Zahra Newman, and Mia Wasikowska.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
27 Jan. 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
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The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office announced Monday that Hunter Roy will serve six years behind bars after pleading guilty to cruelty to animals and endangering the welfare of a child.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
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There was an implicit cruelty behind the exercise.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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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The department’s oversight, an unprecedented arrangement that began with the infamous Riders brutality scandal in the early 2000s, will continue at least until May.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2026
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The movie is happy to have Linda commit acts of brutality to preserve her place on top, but what is true equality if not allowing your anti-heroine to be in all ways just as monstrously self-interested as the men?—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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There is no way to sugarcoat the awfulness of those months of anxiety.—
Kate Callen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
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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
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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 1 Feb. 2026.
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