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 ConradExamples 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
Throughout Assad’s rule, the Alawite sect became increasingly linked, in the eyes of his opponents, to the atrocities committed by his regime during the Syrian civil war.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
The new government should thus start by creating mechanisms to formally acknowledge the Assad regime’s atrocities and begin redressing them.
—Patrick Vinck, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2025
In the morning, the full extent of the atrocity became clear.
—Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
The scope of the atrocity is daunting, even more so because of NoiseKat’s personal connection to the schools through his father.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
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Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
The new government should thus start by creating mechanisms to formally acknowledge the Assad regime’s atrocities and begin redressing them.
—Patrick Vinck, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2025
In the morning, the full extent of the atrocity became clear.
—Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
The scope of the atrocity is daunting, even more so because of NoiseKat’s personal connection to the schools through his father.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocity
Cite this Entry
“Atrocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atrocity. Accessed 15 Mar. 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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