carnage

noun

car·​nage ˈkär-nij 

1

: the flesh of slain animals or humans

a multitude of dogs came to feast on the carnage

—T. B. Macaulay

2

: great and usually bloody slaughter or injury (as in battle)

the carnage of war

Synonyms

• bloodbath
• butchery
• death
• holocaust
• massacre
• slaughter

Examples of carnage in a Sentence

Reporters described the highway accident as a scene of carnage.

the appalling carnage in that war-torn country requires that the outside world intervene

Recent Examples on the Web

By the end of the carnage, the pop star is incarcerated for the murders, but the Levelists, who all managed to escape the compound before police arrived, are spread out across disparate communities, blending in, waiting. —Jessica Wang, EW.com, 14 Mar. 2025

Nihilistic action comedies such as Novocaine are built on juxtaposing irreverent humor with cathartic carnage, which can sometimes feel off-putting and contrived. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025

Understanding why Tesla’s stock plunged helps investors make sense of the carnage: even market darlings can stumble badly when expectations overshoot reality. —Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025

Even against the background of the L.A. carnage, Australia’s experience is undeniably more acute. —Charlie Campbell / Melbourne and Canberra, TIME, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from Medieval Latin carnaticum tribute consisting of animals or meat, from Latin carn-, caro — see carnal

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

carnage

noun

car·​nage ˈkär-nij 

: great destruction of life (as in battle) : slaughter