as in slaughter
the killing of a large number of people
the infamous massacre of more than 200 Sioux at Wounded Knee, South Dakota
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to slaughter
to kill on a large scale
the country's rival ethnic groups began massacring one another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of massacre
Alex Stone,
ABC News,
23 June 2026
Scenes involving firearms alarmed distributors still grappling with the aftermath of the Columbine massacre, while the film’s October release via Newmarket was further complicated by a trailer prominently featuring an airplane crash just weeks after the September 11 attacks.
—
José Salazar,
IndieWire,
22 June 2026
Laura Secor,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
Set in the tumultuous 1880s American frontier, The Magnificent Seven follows seven gifted but flawed mercenaries hired to protect a peaceful Quaker village after it is massacred by mercenaries working for a ruthless land baron trying to seize their land.
—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for massacre
Noun
Officers said the suspect wanted a Columbine massacre-style shooting and did not know the victims, who were all patrons of the library.
—
Alex Stone,
ABC News,
23 June 2026
Scenes involving firearms alarmed distributors still grappling with the aftermath of the Columbine massacre, while the film’s October release via Newmarket was further complicated by a trailer prominently featuring an airplane crash just weeks after the September 11 attacks.
—
José Salazar,
IndieWire,
22 June 2026
Verb
Iran’s security services massacred protesters on a historic scale just weeks before Israel and the United States plunged the country into conflict.
—
Laura Secor,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
Set in the tumultuous 1880s American frontier, The Magnificent Seven follows seven gifted but flawed mercenaries hired to protect a peaceful Quaker village after it is massacred by mercenaries working for a ruthless land baron trying to seize their land.
—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for massacre
Recent Examples of Synonyms for massacre
slaughter
Noun
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Ruthye needs someone to avenge the slaughter of her family at the hands of Krem of the Yellow Hills.
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The cabin sat on the banks of the not-so-mighty Potomac, looking north toward Antietam Creek and the great slaughter of September 17, 1862, and on the site of the Battle of Boteler’s Ford, fought two days later.
Cite this Entry
“Massacre.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/massacre. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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