atrocity
noun
atroc·i·ty
ə-ˈträ-sə-tē 
plural atrocities
1
: a shockingly bad or atrocious act, object, or situation
the atrocities of war
2
: the quality or state of being atrocious
… the paralysing atrocity of the thought which occupied her.—
Joseph Conrad
Joseph ConradExamples of atrocity in a Sentence
Atrocities were committed by forces on both sides of the conflict.
Who could be capable of such atrocity?
Recent Examples on the Web
Satellite images analyzed by the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale School of Public Health and verified by CNN show clear evidence of the atrocities in El Fasher.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Whether the atrocities of the RSF and SAF are comparable is an open question.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2025
The writers mold a peculiar premise in their screenplay by avoiding another dime-a-dozen found footage spectacle, instead turning a very careful eye toward the real-life atrocities committed by the church — plus some genuine scares.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
The Sudanese Army withdrew from a key city in Darfur now under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, sparking fears of mass atrocities by the group, which has reportedly received backing from the UAE.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
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Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Whether the atrocities of the RSF and SAF are comparable is an open question.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2025
The writers mold a peculiar premise in their screenplay by avoiding another dime-a-dozen found footage spectacle, instead turning a very careful eye toward the real-life atrocities committed by the church — plus some genuine scares.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
The Sudanese Army withdrew from a key city in Darfur now under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, sparking fears of mass atrocities by the group, which has reportedly received backing from the UAE.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Cite this Entry
“Atrocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atrocity. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
atrocity
noun
atroc·i·ty
ə-ˈträs-ət-ē
plural atrocities
1
: the quality or state of being atrocious
2
: something that is atrocious
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