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
However, in the face of the Japanese army’s cruel atrocities, A Chang risks his life to safely transfer the refugees and expose the evidence of the massacre to the public.
—
Sara Merican, Deadline, 28 July 2025
Israel’s military strikes in Syria this week — launched in response to atrocities against the Druze minority — represent a strategic turning point in a deeper power struggle that now entangles Iran, Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the U.S., according to regional analysts.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 18 July 2025
On August 3, 2014, Daesh launched a devastating attack on Sinjar, inflicting widespread atrocities on the Yazidi community.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
The Vietnam War was lost after squandering more than $1 trillion in current dollars, and suffering more than 55,000 American military deaths, millions of Vietnamese casualties, the My Lai massacre, napalm girl and countless other atrocities.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Sara Merican, Deadline, 28 July 2025
Israel’s military strikes in Syria this week — launched in response to atrocities against the Druze minority — represent a strategic turning point in a deeper power struggle that now entangles Iran, Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the U.S., according to regional analysts.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 18 July 2025
On August 3, 2014, Daesh launched a devastating attack on Sinjar, inflicting widespread atrocities on the Yazidi community.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
The Vietnam War was lost after squandering more than $1 trillion in current dollars, and suffering more than 55,000 American military deaths, millions of Vietnamese casualties, the My Lai massacre, napalm girl and countless other atrocities.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrocity
Noun
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One user suggested the couple might have found themselves in a horror film scenario.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
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But to be fair, when have studio executives ever foamed at the mouth to make an arthouse horror film set in the world of ballet, one that ends with its heroine taking her own life?—
Keaton Bell,
Vogue,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The driver was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on suspicion of DUI and two counts of willful cruelty to a child.—
Cathie Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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Norwalk police on April 22 arrested her on one count of animal cruelty, records show.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Stunning, historical and with acute attention to detail, this series is about the greed of men, a crushing power obsession and the brutality of war.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
1 Aug. 2025
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Bronson doesn’t shy away from the brutalities of the fighting between the pioneers and the Shawnee and Miami tribes, as seen from the perspective of the settlers.—
Jeff Suess,
The Enquirer,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Atrocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrocity. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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