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
Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
The government began forming paramilitary groups that were responsible for countless massacres.
—Roberto Andrés, The Dial, 28 May 2026
This would mean more massive massacres and arrests.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Richard is implied to be Hutu, though his family are never suggested to have participated in or supported the massacres.
—Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 19 May 2026
The Iranian government carried out a widespread massacres of civilians, killing tens of thousands.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2026
There are massacres and repression, but the Iranian people keep hoping and going back to protest and demand their rights.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 12 May 2026
And always these massacres were preceded by vilification, by slanders.
—CBS News, 10 May 2026
Planting seasons, river baptisms, torture, prayers, African dialects, poverty, massacres, lynchings.
—Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
Regions like Tigray, Amhara, and Oromia remain ravaged by active warfare, massacres, and mass displacement.
—Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
The government began forming paramilitary groups that were responsible for countless massacres.
—Roberto Andrés, The Dial, 28 May 2026
This would mean more massive massacres and arrests.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Richard is implied to be Hutu, though his family are never suggested to have participated in or supported the massacres.
—Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 19 May 2026
The Iranian government carried out a widespread massacres of civilians, killing tens of thousands.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2026
There are massacres and repression, but the Iranian people keep hoping and going back to protest and demand their rights.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 12 May 2026
And always these massacres were preceded by vilification, by slanders.
—CBS News, 10 May 2026
Planting seasons, river baptisms, torture, prayers, African dialects, poverty, massacres, lynchings.
—Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
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
-
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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Kingpin’s enforcer Buck Cashman (Arty Froushan) shockingly murders Deputy Mayor Daniel Blake (Michael Gandolfini) in a showdown of Fisk’s two right-hand men.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Geillis, on her quest to install Bonnie Prince Charlie on the throne, murders her husband as a blood sacrifice and walks through the stones.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Several deaths have been confirmed, according to the Office of Civil Defense, while response teams are still trying to verify more reports of casualties on the ground.—
Kathleen Magramo,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
-
Congolese authorities have confirmed 452 cases including 82 deaths.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Massacres.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/massacres. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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