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

But the Staten Island district attorney’s office declined to prosecute the teen at the time in the hope of finding more evidence that could put Nesbitt-Hall behind the wheel of the car that caused the carnage. —Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2025

The carnage from the third inning: 24 batters to the plate, seven singles, seven walks, four doubles, two errors and one hit by pitch. —Mitch Light, The Athletic, 17 Feb. 2025

The shooting also sent shock waves through Europe, with officials in Brussels expressing their outrage at the carnage. —Stefanie Dazio, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025

The final carnage from the Avs after one period: four goals (most in a first period this season), 21 shots on goal (most in any period this year) and 36 shot attempts (tied for most in a period this season). —Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 31 Jan. 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