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
Joseph ConradSynonyms
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
And as the memories of the atrocity fade, the world is witnessing a resurgence of antisemitism, along with other xenophobia, and distortions of history.
—Natalia Romik / Madę By History, TIME, 27 Jan. 2025
Hamas has embedded itself deeply into Gazan society, and its atrocities are carried out with civilian complicity and civilian assistance.
—Todd L. Pittinsky, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2025
Karski, who had personally witnessed the Nazi’s atrocities, told Frankfurter of the horrors being inflicted upon the Jews in Warsaw’s ghettos and Polish concentration camps.
—Terrance Carroll, The Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2025
International mechanisms for accountability must be leveraged to bring the perpetrators of atrocity crimes to justice.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for atrocity 
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Natalia Romik / Madę By History, TIME, 27 Jan. 2025
Hamas has embedded itself deeply into Gazan society, and its atrocities are carried out with civilian complicity and civilian assistance.
—Todd L. Pittinsky, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2025
Karski, who had personally witnessed the Nazi’s atrocities, told Frankfurter of the horrors being inflicted upon the Jews in Warsaw’s ghettos and Polish concentration camps.
—Terrance Carroll, The Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2025
International mechanisms for accountability must be leveraged to bring the perpetrators of atrocity crimes to justice.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for atrocity
Dictionary Entries Near atrocity
Cite this Entry
“Atrocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atrocity. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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