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

Synonyms

• atrociousness
• awfulness
• dreadfulness
• frightfulness
• ghastliness
• grisliness
• gruesomeness
• hideousness
• horridness
• horror
• monstrosity
• repulsiveness

Examples 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

Among Assad’s worst atrocities was the 2013 sarin gas attack in the city of Ghouta, which killed more than 1,400 people and was labeled a war crime by the then-UN secretary general. —Rob Picheta, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024

In 2014, Daesh attacked Sinjar, Iraq, inflicting widespread atrocities on the Yazidi community. —Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

The Syrian leader is accused of widespread abuses and atrocities during the country's civil war. —Greg Myre, NPR, 3 Dec. 2024

Sudan has similarly refused to surrender former President Omar al-Bashir, who is accused of atrocities during the Darfur conflict. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see atrocious

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids 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