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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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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of atrocity
Writers dealing with historical atrocities are forced to handfeed research to readers who might have never learned much if anything about them in school.
—
Aram Mrjoian
june 6, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025
The former mayor of a small rural village in Haiti, accused of torturing and killing opponents in his homeland, was sentenced Friday in a Massachusetts federal court to nine years in prison for lying about the atrocities in order to obtain a U.S. green card.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 June 2025
Hamas’ atrocities on Oct. 7, and their Iranian patrons’ dash toward nuclear weapons, have only strengthened our determination to build a better future for Iran, Israel and the region.
—Shervin Pishevar, New York Daily News, 19 June 2025
That commission, set up by then-President Nelson Mandela, attempted to confront the atrocities of apartheid in the years after the system officially ended in 1994.
—Michelle Gumede, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Aram Mrjoian
june 6, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025
The former mayor of a small rural village in Haiti, accused of torturing and killing opponents in his homeland, was sentenced Friday in a Massachusetts federal court to nine years in prison for lying about the atrocities in order to obtain a U.S. green card.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 June 2025
Hamas’ atrocities on Oct. 7, and their Iranian patrons’ dash toward nuclear weapons, have only strengthened our determination to build a better future for Iran, Israel and the region.
—Shervin Pishevar, New York Daily News, 19 June 2025
That commission, set up by then-President Nelson Mandela, attempted to confront the atrocities of apartheid in the years after the system officially ended in 1994.
—Michelle Gumede, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrocity
Noun
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One of the most important episodes of the first season sees the contestants voting to leave, then choosing to come back after experiencing the horrors of living with debt.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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In the span of three weeks, in prime time and on the big screen, Americans witnessed two vivid interpretations of the horrors of nuclear war: one explosive and terrifying, the other corrosive and elegiac.—
Tom Nichols,
The Atlantic,
10 July 2025
Noun
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The new law adds to existing municipal ordinances that forbid animal cruelty or neglect, including leaving a pet in too small of a space or outside in the hot Florida sun.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
3 July 2025
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The record got its name from a title track that comes mid-album, a plucky, haunting Americana song that explores the ties between love and cruelty.—
Audrey Gibbs,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Noun
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Kenya’s biggest cities have been roiled for days by protesters demonstrating against stagnating growth, soaring inequality, and police brutality.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
11 July 2025
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The entire world needs to stand up and condemn the severe incident, which again reveals the brutality of Hamas.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
6 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Atrocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrocity. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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