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
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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This Week in Words : December 23 - 29, 2017
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The Hate U Give
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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.
Our collective attention has been framed as an essential guardrail against atrocity and abuse of power.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026
There is definitely a rising percentage of Jews who identify what the Israelis have done as an atrocity.
From Salon • Feb. 25, 2026
People in general are conscious of atrocity now, but why might some people still support what a reasonable person would call an atrocity?
From Salon • Feb. 25, 2026
Micron’s point in stringing together this alphabetical atrocity is that the market for one of its most lucrative products could see 40% yearly growth through 2028, from $35 billion to $100 billion.
From Barron's • Jan. 2, 2026
“I’m sorry you feel that way. I feel terrible about what happened. I assure you the atrocity was unintentional.”
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
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.
