atrocity
n.an extremely cruel, violent, or shocking act. You usually use this word to describe terrible things that happen during a war or a crime.
n.an extremely wicked or cruel act, typically one involving physical violence or injury. Often used in the plural to describe systematic human rights violations during conflict.
“The soldiers were accused of committing a terrible atrocity.”
“International observers arrived at the border to document every atrocity committed during the three-month occupation.”
“The museum serves as a somber memorial to the victims of the atrocity, ensuring that future generations understand the human cost of such unchecked hatred.”
Frequently used with the verb 'commit' or 'perpetrate'.
“Bystanders are likely to deny an atrocity when acknowledging it requires action, both morally and legally.”
“The buried trauma of past atrocities seems to feed a societal yearning for the freedom to bear arms.”
From Middle French atrocité, from Latin atrōcitātem, from atrox (“terrible, cruel”) + -tās, from āter (“matte black”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.