atrocity

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the quality of being shockingly cruel and inhumane
  2. noun an act of atrocious cruelty

Etymology

From Middle French atrocité, from Latin atrōcitās, from atrōx (“terrible, cruel”) + -tās, from āter (“matte black”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

atrociousness, barbarity, barbarousness, heinousness

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