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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of atrocity
Mantell, Felker-Martin tells me, was a Polish resistance photographer who was captured by Nazi soldiers while documenting their atrocities and imprisoned in Auschwitz for a year.
—
Samantha Riedel, Them., 29 Oct. 2025
But the militia group has committed atrocities in the region this year already.
—NPR, 27 Oct. 2025
He was joined by Ali Abbas and Ali Ayyoub, two former ministers of defense facing sanctions for human rights violations and atrocities carried out during the conflict.
—Danny Makki, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
In times of mass atrocity, processing personal sorrow becomes more complicated.
—Reem Kassis, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Samantha Riedel, Them., 29 Oct. 2025
But the militia group has committed atrocities in the region this year already.
—NPR, 27 Oct. 2025
He was joined by Ali Abbas and Ali Ayyoub, two former ministers of defense facing sanctions for human rights violations and atrocities carried out during the conflict.
—Danny Makki, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
In times of mass atrocity, processing personal sorrow becomes more complicated.
—Reem Kassis, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrocity
Noun
-
The green Christmas light blinks in horror.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The video teaser Chrli shared features eerie, horror film–like sound effects and the haunting sound of violins as Charli is pinned down by an elderly hand while staring directly into the camera.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The film instead offers an intimate, unhurried exploration of human cruelty.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Politically, both parties are trading blame—Republicans citing fiscal law, Democrats accusing the administration of cruelty—while the court’s decision could set a lasting precedent for how federal agencies manage safety-net programs during funding lapses.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Leone’s creation has gained a substantial cult following thanks to its throwback grindhouse aesthetics, nauseating practical effects, and unapologetic brutality.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
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Despite a complete media and communications blackout, making specifics hard to determine, videos trickled out of El Fasher showing the brutality being unleashed on the civilian population.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The real-life 2005 story involving a Canadian couple who inspired this film is horrifying, and the movie does a great job of capturing the awfulness of being mauled by a bear.—
Vanessa Maki,
Vulture,
8 Oct. 2025
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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
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 7 Nov. 2025.
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