carnage
- 01 C1 Advanced
the killing of a large number of people, especially in a war or accident.
the slaughter of a great number of people, as in battle; butchery or massacre.
Simple“The news reports showed the carnage left behind after the explosion.”
In context“The battlefield was a scene of absolute carnage, with the remains of burnt-out vehicles stretching for miles along the highway.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
a situation that is very messy, disorganized, or out of control.
a state of extreme disorder or chaos, often resulting from a lack of control or a wild event.
Simple“The kitchen was total carnage after the toddlers tried to bake a cake.”
In context“The office was pure carnage on the final day of the merger, with staff members frantically packing boxes and shouting over one another.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
a game or competition where one side loses by a very large amount.
an overwhelming defeat or a situation in which one side is completely dominated in a competition.
Simple“The match was absolute carnage as the home team lost seven-nil.”
In context“Sports commentators described the second half as total carnage, as the defending champions failed to stop a relentless offensive barrage.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
a night of very heavy drinking and the messy results that follow.
a period of excessive alcohol consumption and the resulting disorderly behaviour or aftermath.
Simple“The city centre was carnage on New Year's Eve.”
In context“The festival grounds were a scene of carnage by Sunday morning, littered with discarded cans and sleeping revellers.”
Synonyms
“Pandey said that on his helicopter flight he noticed about 100 people on higher ground, who he believed were local people who narrowly escaped the carnage.”
“Although they continued to fight with tomahawks, spears, and bows and arrows, they could do little to stop the carnage that ensued.”
Borrowed from Middle French carnage, from a Norman or Picard variant Old Northern French) of Old French charnage, from char (“flesh”), or from Vulgar Latin *carnaticum (“slaughter of animals”), itself from Latin carnem, accusative of caro (“flesh”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.