noun
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behaviour or an action that is wicked or ruthless
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the fact or quality of being atrocious
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(usually plural) acts of extreme cruelty, esp against prisoners or civilians in wartime
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of atrocity
1525–35; < Latin atrōcitās, equivalent to atrōci- (stem of atrōx ) fierce + -tās -ty 2
Explanation
Atrocities, acts of outrageous cruelty, are often committed during wars and armed conflicts. The word atrocity describes both the act of cruelty as well as the sense of cruelty. If you go to visit a poorly run prison, you might be overwhelmed by the atrocity of the place when you see that no one is treated with respect, and torture is rampant. The word atrocity is also often used in the context of warfare and frequently as a plural. There were numerous atrocities on both sides, as the war raged on and the fighters’ capacity for cruelty seemed to increase.
Vocabulary lists containing atrocity
The Things They Carried
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The Hate U Give
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This Week in Words : December 23 - 29, 2017
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“Let us not wait for atrocity to act,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
"This atrocity was a defining moment for America and your pain and shock were felt around the whole world," Charles told the US Congress on Tuesday.
From Barron's ● Apr. 29, 2026
"This atrocity was a defining moment for America and your pain and shock were felt around the whole world," said the King.
From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2026
Our collective attention has been framed as an essential guardrail against atrocity and abuse of power.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 12, 2026
I have to call him a second time for him to stop that atrocity and come over.
From "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas
The pamphlet railed against British atrocities, condemned servile loyalism and confidently projected military recovery.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026
Organizer Sid Mohasseb, 65, says he cannot "sleep because of the atrocities that they're facing."
From Barron's ● Jun. 14, 2026
The issue of Japan apologising for wartime atrocities has long been a sticking point in the two countries' relations, with China in the past criticising some of the apologies as insufficient.
From BBC ● May 31, 2026
This was the real-life version of a mindless doomscroll, when all of the world’s atrocities barely register.
From Salon ● Apr. 25, 2026
It’s a shock to everyone when he says, the Battle of Kinsale in sixteen nought one was the saddest moment in Irish history, a close battle with cruelty and atrocities on both sides.
From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
