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
Anyone capable of the atrocities that Vick was responsible for is beyond redemption.
—Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024
For years, as reports of atrocities filtered out, Bashar al-Assad remained in power, propped up by Russian and Iranian allies.
—Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2024
However, its forces are made up of jihadist militants, who were shown on video committing a slew of atrocities, including beheadings and the desecration of corpses during their lightning offensive that led to Assad’s collapse.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 11 Dec. 2024
The Lucky Ones recounts this time in all of its atrocities, underlining how the promise of democracy fails to account for those who need it most.
—Annabel Gutterman, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
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Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024
For years, as reports of atrocities filtered out, Bashar al-Assad remained in power, propped up by Russian and Iranian allies.
—Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2024
However, its forces are made up of jihadist militants, who were shown on video committing a slew of atrocities, including beheadings and the desecration of corpses during their lightning offensive that led to Assad’s collapse.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 11 Dec. 2024
The Lucky Ones recounts this time in all of its atrocities, underlining how the promise of democracy fails to account for those who need it most.
—Annabel Gutterman, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
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 26 Dec. 2024.
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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