1
as in horror
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay
the undeniable atrocity of the forced march of Cherokees known as the Trail of Tears
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2
as in badness
the state or quality of being utterly evil
was appalled by the atrocity of Stalin's mass executions
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3
as in cruelty
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others
wars often unleash a level of atrocity that would be unimaginable in peacetime
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Recent Examples of atrocity
In fact, Israel has been encouraged to commit atrocities by an American president and House leader who flaunt their Christianity but whose adherence to Christian teachings, such as Christ’s instruction in the Gospel of Matthew to protect little children, comes up short.
—
Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
Both sides have committed atrocities, but the RSF’s offenses are believed to be far worse in both scale and nature.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, The Mercury News, 4 Jan. 2025
His incendiary rhymes, which boldly call out the atrocities carried out by the country’s dictatorial regime, have resulted in multiple arrests and extended stretches in prison over the last five years, for a sum total of 753 days.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 9 Jan. 2025
Indeed, in recent years, this designation was made in the cases of the Daesh atrocities against Yazidis, Christians and other religious minorities, the atrocities against Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China, and the atrocities against the Rohingya in Myanmar.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for atrocity 
Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
Both sides have committed atrocities, but the RSF’s offenses are believed to be far worse in both scale and nature.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, The Mercury News, 4 Jan. 2025
His incendiary rhymes, which boldly call out the atrocities carried out by the country’s dictatorial regime, have resulted in multiple arrests and extended stretches in prison over the last five years, for a sum total of 753 days.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 9 Jan. 2025
Indeed, in recent years, this designation was made in the cases of the Daesh atrocities against Yazidis, Christians and other religious minorities, the atrocities against Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China, and the atrocities against the Rohingya in Myanmar.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for atrocity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrocity
Noun
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Isn't finding out the answer to those questions part of what makes horror great?—
EW Staff,
EW.com,
23 Jan. 2025
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As is the case with horror icons such as Dracula, Freddy Krueger, and The Babadook, expect Bill Skarsgård's grotesque Count Orlok to be an annual Halloween costume favorite from now on.—
Simon Thompson,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Saline County sheriff’s deputies, responding to an animal cruelty report entered the Fullen’s field after observing about 50 cattle, many with calves, with minimal grass to graze on, according to an affidavit.—
Jonathan Shorman,
Kansas City Star,
16 Jan. 2025
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Aggravated cruelty to animals is a felony under New York State law and carries a sentence of up to two years if convicted.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Those factories were disproportionately African American, exacerbating the ever-present burden of segregation and police brutality.—
Matthew Scogin,
Forbes,
11 Jan. 2025
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The series generally holds nothing back in terms of portraying the kind of visceral brutality that resulted from the violent campaign of manifest destiny and America’s founding.—
Abbey White,
The Hollywood Reporter,
11 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Atrocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrocity. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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