as in slaughters
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 murders
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 massacres
Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
Israel is similarly concerned that Sharaa continues to be inspired by Islamic extremism and reports of ethnic minority massacres within the country.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 2026
Although that may have been the case, over time the AUC became a brutal criminal organization responsible for some of the worst massacres and forced displacements in Colombian history.
—Kevin Whitaker, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
Enough of these imperial massacres.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
The 19th century was dirty, ruthless, and dangerous; Deadwood had its murder-for-land plots, American Primeval was awash in scalpings, Godless its townwide massacres.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
Israel’s first occupation of Gaza was characterized by war crimes, massacres, and expulsions.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
One of the worst massacres is believed to have taken place at the Saudi Hospital, which was the last hospital still operating in the city during the siege.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
And in September, there were two back-to-back prison massacres.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
There were massacres, suppression of speech, banning of political opposition, closing of non-Islamist press, jailing of opponents and public executions of political and religious enemies.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
Israel is similarly concerned that Sharaa continues to be inspired by Islamic extremism and reports of ethnic minority massacres within the country.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 2026
Although that may have been the case, over time the AUC became a brutal criminal organization responsible for some of the worst massacres and forced displacements in Colombian history.
—Kevin Whitaker, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
Enough of these imperial massacres.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
The 19th century was dirty, ruthless, and dangerous; Deadwood had its murder-for-land plots, American Primeval was awash in scalpings, Godless its townwide massacres.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
Israel’s first occupation of Gaza was characterized by war crimes, massacres, and expulsions.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
One of the worst massacres is believed to have taken place at the Saudi Hospital, which was the last hospital still operating in the city during the siege.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
And in September, there were two back-to-back prison massacres.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
The Polish government considers the Volhynia and Galicia massacres a genocide, and holds Bandera equal in infamy to Nazi war criminals of the same era.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for massacres
Noun
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Hands-down one of the most disgusting movies ever made (a compliment), the film finds the indefatigable slasher, who was decapitated at the end of Terrifier 2, reattaching his head and commencing his ritual slaughters.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Perez, a 63-year-old transient man, was convicted of the child murders from 1992 through 2001 throughout Central and Northern California, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office announced in a news release.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
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Gun murders rare Until Sunday, Australia had decades of proof that tough gun laws can make a country safer with one of the world’s lowest gun homicide rates, per capita.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
15 Dec. 2025
Noun
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To date, the agency has investigated 408 fatal incidents resulting in 454 deaths on Arkansas highways, state police records say.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
10 Nov. 2025
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The hurricane has been blamed for 77 deaths, according to the Pan American Health Organization.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Massacres.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/massacres. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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