atrocity

noun

atroc·​i·​ty ə-ˈträ-sə-tē How to pronounce atrocity (audio)
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

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 Presently, so many are unwilling to do the work of facing the atrocities America has committed against its citizens. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 Anniversary of a tragedy Chernov's Oscar win comes the day after the two-year anniversary of the March 9, 2022, attack on a maternity hospital in the Ukranian city of Mariupol, killing four people and becoming a symbol of some of the worst of Russia's atrocities. Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024 But Wednesday’s incident stood out for how close the missile strike was to both Zelensky and Mitsotakis — what some Western leaders condemned as a new low for Moscow, which has committed thousands of atrocities against civilians throughout its invasion. Isabelle Khurshudyan, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 In recent years, universal jurisdiction has become an essential avenue to the prosecution of atrocities committed in countries like Syria, where prospects for accountability are otherwise limited. David Bruckmeier, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Feb. 2024 Others emphasized the emotional and personal impact of the atrocities committed by Hamas and the fear of rising antisemitism. Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024 Despite the growing evidence of atrocities — and warnings from aid groups that parts of Sudan are heading toward famine — international attention to the conflict has been limited at a time when much of the focus is on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Declan Walsh, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024 Left-leaning users have called the campaign’s posts tone-deaf in light of the ongoing atrocities in Gaza. Makena Kelly, WIRED, 24 Feb. 2024 February 24, 2024, marks two years since Putin’s Russia attacked Ukraine and unleashed a full-scale invasion, with horrific atrocities against the Ukrainian nation, in an attempt to destroy Ukraine as a country. Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'atrocity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see atrocious

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of atrocity was in 1534

Dictionary Entries Near atrocity

Cite this Entry

“Atrocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atrocity. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

atrocity

noun
atroc·​i·​ty ə-ˈträs-ət-ē How to pronounce atrocity (audio)
plural atrocities
1
: the quality or state of being atrocious
2
: something that is atrocious

More from Merriam-Webster on atrocity

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