Word
carnage
Phoneticscar·nage, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɑɹnɪdʒ/
UK/kˈɑːnɪdʒ/
Definitions
01violence and death
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the killing of a large number of people, especially in a war or accident.
n. the slaughter of a great number of people, as in battle; butchery or massacre.
“The news reports showed the carnage left behind after the explosion.”
“The battlefield was a scene of absolute carnage, with the remains of burnt-out vehicles stretching for miles along the highway.”
Antonyms
02extreme chaos
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Informal
n. a situation that is very messy, disorganized, or out of control.
n. a state of extreme disorder or chaos, often resulting from a lack of control or a wild event.
“The kitchen was total carnage after the toddlers tried to bake a cake.”
“The office was pure carnage on the final day of the merger, with staff members frantically packing boxes and shouting over one another.”
Antonyms
03a heavy defeat
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Sports Informal
n. a game or competition where one side loses by a very large amount.
n. an overwhelming defeat or a situation in which one side is completely dominated in a competition.
“The match was absolute carnage as the home team lost seven-nil.”
“Sports commentators described the second half as total carnage, as the defending champions failed to stop a relentless offensive barrage.”
04wild partying
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Slang · British English
n. a night of very heavy drinking and the messy results that follow.
n. a period of excessive alcohol consumption and the resulting disorderly behaviour or aftermath.
“The city centre was carnage on New Year's Eve.”
“The festival grounds were a scene of carnage by Sunday morning, littered with discarded cans and sleeping revellers.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Although they continued to fight with tomahawks, spears, and bows and arrows, they could do little to stop the carnage that ensued.” “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.” Etymology
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.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/carnage