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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in badness
the state or quality of being utterly evil
was appalled by the atrocity of Stalin's mass executions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of atrocity
It is estimated that up to 10,000 Nazis and other fascist war criminals escaped justice for Holocaust atrocities by fleeing to Argentina and other Latin American countries.
—
Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2025
The fighting has been marked by atrocities including mass rape and ethnically motivated killings that amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, especially in the western region of Darfur, according to the United Nations and international rights groups.
—Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2025
The defense, though, convinced U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer to forgo jail altogether, portraying Wynne as a victim of abuse who witnessed atrocities as a child, suffers from a learning disability and tried to harm himself multiple times during his jail stay.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2025
Additionally, it was feared that acknowledgment of Khmer Rouge atrocities would validate the U.S. military endeavors in Indochina, which many people — especially leading scholars — had come to excoriate.
—Ray Cavanaugh, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2025
The fighting has been marked by atrocities including mass rape and ethnically motivated killings that amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, especially in the western region of Darfur, according to the United Nations and international rights groups.
—Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2025
The defense, though, convinced U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer to forgo jail altogether, portraying Wynne as a victim of abuse who witnessed atrocities as a child, suffers from a learning disability and tried to harm himself multiple times during his jail stay.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2025
Additionally, it was feared that acknowledgment of Khmer Rouge atrocities would validate the U.S. military endeavors in Indochina, which many people — especially leading scholars — had come to excoriate.
—Ray Cavanaugh, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrocity
Noun
-
Coogler transforms the faux-Faustian blues legend into an allegory of historical horror.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Free League Publishing put out an official Alien Role Playing Game in December of 2019 as part of a fresh batch of space horror games.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Woodland police detectives on Tuesday arrested Christian Jacobo, 22, on suspicion of murder and willful cruelty toward a child causing death, police officials said in a Friday news release.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
11 Apr. 2025
-
But what’s even creepier is Remmick’s invitation to the holdouts to join them, promising an escape from dehumanizing cruelty into a fellowship that offers an eternal life of freedom and enlightenment.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Hate and rationalization of all the provenances of brutality.—
David Bezmozgis,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2025
-
The case has drawn national attention to issues of police brutality and racial bias, particularly in how law enforcement engages with individuals with disabilities.—
Essence,
Essence,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Atrocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrocity. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share