Atrocity

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /əˈtɹɒsɪti/

Definitions

1. A profoundly immoral or brutal action that inflicts significant pain or destruction upon individuals or society
2. A heinous act characterized by its extreme cruelty or violence, leading to tremendous suffering or injustice
3. An act of extreme cruelty that causes great suffering or injustice

Etymology: The Latin root of "atrocity" carries a colour in it: "āter" meant matte black, the dull black of soot or a dark sky rather than glossy black. From it the Romans built "atrōx", which described something dark, grim and terrible, and then came to mean cruel or fierce. The sense of blackness moved into a sense of horror, so that an act that was "atrox" was one that deserved to be described in dark terms. The word passed into Middle French as "atrocité" and from there into English, where it entered as a term for extreme wickedness or cruelty. Its meaning has stayed close to the Latin: a shocking act of violence, often one committed against people who cannot defend themselves.

Synonyms: cruelty, horror, abomination, monstrosity, outrage

Antonyms: goodness, virtue, kindness, compassion, benevolence