Massacre — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈma-si-kər/ mas·sa·cre

Meaning & Definition of Massacre

Massacre (noun)

  1. the act or an instance of killing a number of usually helpless or unresisting human beings under circumstances of atrocity or cruelty
  2. a cruel or wanton murder
  3. a wholesale slaughter of animals

Massacre (verb)

  1. to kill by massacre
  2. mangle

Massacre (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the killing of a large number of people

    "the infamous massacre of more than 200 Sioux at Wounded Knee, South Dakota"

    similar: bloodbath, butchery, carnage, death, holocaust, slaughter
    related: bloodletting, bloodshed, foul play, homicide, killing, manslaughter, murder, slaying, mortality, annihilation, decimation, demolishing, destruction, devastation, eradication, extermination, genocide, pogrom, assassination, execution

Massacre (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to kill on a large scale

    "the country's rival ethnic groups began massacring one another"

    similar: butcher, mow (down), slaughter
    related: assassinate, croak (slang), dispatch, do in, execute, fell, murder, slay, smite, snuff, annihilate, blot out, decimate, demolish, destroy, devastate, eradicate, exterminate, waste, wipe out

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Massacre

The most common words with a similar meaning to Massacre:

bloodbath, butchery, carnage, death, holocaust, slaughter, butcher, mow (down)

Related Words for Massacre

bloodletting, bloodshed, foul play, homicide, killing, manslaughter, murder, slaying, mortality, annihilation, decimation, demolishing, destruction, devastation, eradication, extermination, genocide, pogrom, assassination, execution, assassinate, croak, dispatch, do in, execute, fell, slay, smite, snuff, annihilate

Word Forms of Massacre

Inflections: massacred, massacring

Derived words: massacrer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Massacre

Middle French

First known use: circa 1578

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Massacre

Frequently Asked Questions about Massacre

What does "Massacre" mean?

"Massacre" means the act or an instance of killing a number of usually helpless or unresisting human beings under circumstances of atrocity or cruelty. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: the act or an instance of killing a number of usually helpless or unresisting human beings under circumstances of atrocity or cruelty. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Massacre"?

Other words for "Massacre" include bloodbath, butchery, carnage, death, holocaust, slaughter, butcher and mow (down). The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Massacre" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Massacre"?

There are 47 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Massacre". Common alternatives include bloodbath, butchery, carnage, death, holocaust, slaughter, butcher and mow (down).

How do you use "Massacre" in a sentence?

Examples of "Massacre" in a sentence: "the infamous massacre of more than 200 Sioux at Wounded Knee, South Dakota"; "the country's rival ethnic groups began massacring one another".

Is "Massacre" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Massacre" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Massacre" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Massacre" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Massacre"?

"Massacre" is pronounced /ˈma-si-kər/ and divided into syllables as mas·sa·cre.

What is the origin of the word "Massacre"?

"Massacre" comes from Middle French. First known use: circa 1578.