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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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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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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Recent Examples of atrocity
The film centers on American psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek), who is tasked with determining whether Nazi prisoners are fit to stand trial for their atrocities and finds himself in a complex battle of wits with former Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe), Hitler’s right-hand man.
—
Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025
The Changying Film Group release, which dramatizes the atrocities of Japan’s Unit 731 during World War II, stars Jiang Wu, Wang Zhiwen and Li Naiwen.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025
Even amidst the atrocities and the devastating loss, Hassouna remains defiantly hopeful and forms a deep connection with Farsi.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2025
The evening news reported on atrocities committed by Russian forces in Chechnya and on corruption schemes that implicated top officials in the Kremlin.
—Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025
The Changying Film Group release, which dramatizes the atrocities of Japan’s Unit 731 during World War II, stars Jiang Wu, Wang Zhiwen and Li Naiwen.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025
Even amidst the atrocities and the devastating loss, Hassouna remains defiantly hopeful and forms a deep connection with Farsi.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2025
The evening news reported on atrocities committed by Russian forces in Chechnya and on corruption schemes that implicated top officials in the Kremlin.
—Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrocity
Noun
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What the American people really deserve is not mass resignations or brief, fake shutdowns that stir up political chaos in Washington, DC, while Americans across the country watch in horror or turn a blind eye in disgust.—
Nicole Russell,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
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Over the course of nine films that span more than 50 years, not once does horror film icon Leatherface take sensible chainsaw safety precautions.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Brooks explained the white and brown pup was rescued from a cruelty case in South Carolina.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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The cruelty, after all, is the point.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Her name is Christa Gail Pike, who was convicted of killing 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer three decades ago in a case that made national headlines at the time for its brutality.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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Safdie’s presentation of these comments foregrounds Mark’s understanding of what’s profound, and profoundly disturbing, about mixed martial arts, and perhaps all martial arts—the channelling and professionalizing of brutality.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Up-market producer David Susskind railed for four hours about the awfulness of the boob tube.—
Thomas Doherty,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
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Howard, now in his 70s, decided to make a film about the fundamental awfulness of other humans, delivering one of his darkest stories in the process.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Atrocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrocity. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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