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
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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
This atrocity was a defining moment for America and your pain and shock were felt around the whole world.
—
Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
And though the local history museum is nothing but artifacts of atrocities (old newspaper report of cannibalism, a murderer’s mask), only Wyck (Stephen Root, great as always) sees anything paranormal in it, and he’s generally written off as a drunk.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Although set in 1939, the story is framed as a recollection narrated in the present day by Julia herself, now an elderly woman and survivor of the many atrocities of the 20th century.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026
This atrocity was a defining moment for America, and your pain and shock were felt around the whole world.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
And though the local history museum is nothing but artifacts of atrocities (old newspaper report of cannibalism, a murderer’s mask), only Wyck (Stephen Root, great as always) sees anything paranormal in it, and he’s generally written off as a drunk.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Although set in 1939, the story is framed as a recollection narrated in the present day by Julia herself, now an elderly woman and survivor of the many atrocities of the 20th century.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026
This atrocity was a defining moment for America, and your pain and shock were felt around the whole world.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrocity
Noun
-
In the exhibition, surrounded by 100 of them, hung on white cloth in a grid, the horror of the conflict is irrefutable.—
Harrison Jacobs,
ARTnews.com,
12 May 2026
-
Still, there’s plenty to look forward to, including new films from Pedro Almodóvar, Asghar Farhadi, and Hirokazu Kore-eda, as well as an Ira Sachs musical starring Rami Malek, a crime drama from James Gray, and a sapphic horror film from Jane Schoenbrun.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Her staging of Schiaparelli’s work exposes illusion, cost, and cruelty.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
-
That’s the charm and cruelty of the NBA Draft Lottery.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
8 May 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
-
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
-
This includes re-enshrining, codifying and strengthening our inalienable rights in the United States and abolishing ICE to ensure immigration and the struggle of migrants is treated as a civilian one, requiring support instead of brutality and criminalization.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
Although their relationship begins as a love story, the book brings home the profits of Jacob’s earlier brutality—fate catches up to him, and everything that is love and passion sort of spoils into wrath and obsession.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
In a world so full of dread and awfulness, why not take a moment to read anonymous petty literary gossip on the internet?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
-
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
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 13 May. 2026.
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