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
But slightly lesser known is that film’s sort-of sequel, The Look of Silence, which tells the stories of victims of such atrocities.
—
Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Too often, shooters use unsecured weapons to commit these atrocities.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2025
Since 1996, soldiers and militias have killed 6 million people there and committed atrocities against countless civilians.
—Amy Yurkanin, ProPublica, 15 Apr. 2025
Both sides have been accused of atrocities, with the RSF — accused of genocide.
—Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Too often, shooters use unsecured weapons to commit these atrocities.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2025
Since 1996, soldiers and militias have killed 6 million people there and committed atrocities against countless civilians.
—Amy Yurkanin, ProPublica, 15 Apr. 2025
Both sides have been accused of atrocities, with the RSF — accused of genocide.
—Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrocity
Noun
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Clown in a Cornfield director Eli Craig — the son of iconic actor Sally Field — is sharing his mom’s reaction to his new horror comedy.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
-
Like the slicker-wearing fisherman, the world of the 1997 slasher is coming back to life, with an all-new entry in the horror film franchise.—
Christopher Rudolph,
People.com,
11 May 2025
Noun
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His father, Colin Gray, 54, has been indicted on 29 felonies including two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter and eight counts of cruelty to children.—
Devon M. Sayers,
CNN Money,
6 May 2025
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Is the austerity of her work simply regurgitated cruelty?—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
6 May 2025
Noun
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Set in Los Angeles in 2018, with police brutality and the early stages of the Black Lives Matter movement very firmly part of its zeitgeist, Forever begins with Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) and Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) unexpectedly reconnecting at a New Year’s Eve party.—
Ebonie Walker,
Refinery29,
12 May 2025
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The Israeli government is indeed openly promising to commit horrific crimes against Palestinian civilians — brutality even above what the world has seen for the past year and a half.—
Zack Beauchamp,
Vox,
12 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Atrocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrocity. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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