Synonyms for

Massacre

Verb / ˈmæsʌkɜ: / Another word for massacre — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Massacre means the brutal killing of a large number of people.

Synonyms & similar words

massmurder carnage mowdown slaughter butchery slaughter butchery carnage bloodbath holocaust annihilation extermination genocide decimation pogrom elimination liquidation exterminatory bloodshed violence atrocity killings murder death

Synonyms by register

Formal

slaughter carnage annihilation extermination

Informal

bloodbath butchery slaying

Literary

holocaust havoc slaughterhouse

Antonyms

truce peace harmony calm order reconciliation

Common collocations

  • massacre of
  • massacre victims
  • massacre site
  • massacre in
  • massacre of civilians
  • massacre of innocents
  • massacre of unarmed

Word family

noun massacre
verb massacre

Usage note

Massacre refers to the brutal and indiscriminate killing of a large number of people. It carries a strong negative connotation of extreme violence and cruelty.

Example sentences

  1. The massacre at the school was a tragedy that shook the entire community.
  2. The soldiers were accused of committing a massacre during the war.
  3. The documentary showed the horrors of a historic massacre.
  4. The government tried to cover up the massacre of the protesters.
  5. The survivors of the massacre were traumatized for years to come.

Quotes

  • The massacre of the innocents is a subject that has always haunted me, and I wanted to explore it in depth. - Anne Rice
  • The massacre of the Armenians was the greatest crime of the war, and the failure to act against Turkey is to condone it. - Henry Morgenthau, Sr.
  • The massacre at Tiananmen Square is a shameful episode in Chinese history. - Ai Weiwei

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