as in slaughter
the killing of a large number of people
the infamous massacre of more than 200 Sioux at Wounded Knee, South Dakota
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as in to slaughter
to kill on a large scale
the country's rival ethnic groups began massacring one another
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of massacre
Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
Juries are often reluctant to convict law enforcement officers for inaction, as seen after the Parkland, Florida, school massacre in 2018.
—Jim Vertuno, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Didn’t Gallieni also allow Captain Girard to massacre the entire village of Ambiky on August 29, 1897, and decapitate King Toera of the Sakalavas, who had put up a great resistance against the French colonial advance?
—Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for massacre
Noun
There were massacres, suppression of speech, banning of political opposition, closing of non-Islamist press, jailing of opponents and public executions of political and religious enemies.
—Verb
Hamas is a terrorist group that provoked a terrible war by massacring civilians.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for massacre
slaughter
Noun
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The Kohbergers’ pride in Bryan was shattered by the revelation that he was suspected of and later admitted to the slaughter.—
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One wonders if Christ, who stormed the temple shouting that the Lord demands mercy, not sacrifice, freeing lambs and goats meant for ritual slaughter, would cheer bruin thrill killing.—
Cite this Entry
“Massacre.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/massacre. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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