Atrocities
/əˈtrɑːsɪtiz/
nounpluralC2plural
Definition
Atrocities mean very bad and cruel actions that cause great suffering or damage. These acts are often violent and harmful, usually done during wars, crimes, or times of conflict. The word shows something worse than normal bad behavior; it is about extreme cruelty.
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⚡ See It in Action
Extremely cruel or violent acts, especially in war or conflict
- •The soldiers were punished for committing atrocities during the battle.
- •Human rights groups report on atrocities to help stop them.
- •Many atrocities happened during the war, causing great suffering.
Any very cruel or shocking actions causing harm or suffering
- •The documentary showed the atrocities of animal abuse.
- •People protested against the atrocities committed by the government.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "atrocities" like "bad things" (A1 word), but MUCH worse—very cruel and harmful actions that hurt many people
- ✓Picture a dark, scary scene where people are suffering because of violence or unfair treatment
- ✓It's the feeling of shock and sadness when you hear about very cruel acts in the news or history
- ✓Sounds like "uh-TRAH-suh-teez" → Imagine a loud alarm warning about something very wrong and dangerous happening
- ✓Remember stories or movies about wars or disasters where people suffer terribly because of cruel actions
- ✓NOT like "mistakes" (small or accidental), atrocities are intentional and very harmful
- ✓NOT like "accidents" (not planned), atrocities are done on purpose to hurt or scare
- ✓NOT like "disagreements" (words or small fights), atrocities involve serious violence and cruelty
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Crimes against humanity: very serious acts that hurt many people (Use in formal or legal contexts about mass cruelty)
- •War crimes: illegal acts during war (Use when talking about bad actions breaking war rules)
- •Massacres: killing many people violently (Use when many people are hurt or killed)
- •Brutal acts: very cruel and violent actions (Use for strong but less formal description)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: root "atrocity" + plural suffix "-ies"
- •Etymology: From Latin "atrox" meaning cruel or fierce, plus "-ity" to form a noun meaning a cruel act
- •Historical development: Used since the 1600s to describe very cruel acts, especially in war or punishment
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe serious crimes, violent acts, or severe human rights abuses
- •Key insight: Always refers to actions that are extremely cruel and cause great suffering, not small or accidental bad things
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How do people and societies respond when they learn about atrocities happening far away?
•Can stories about atrocities help prevent them in the future? How?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.Atrocities often happen during ___ or violent conflicts where many people suffer.
2.People report atrocities to raise ___ and ask for help or justice.
3.Unlike simple crimes, atrocities involve ___ cruelty and harm to many victims.
4.Sometimes governments ___ atrocities to control or scare their people.
5.Human rights groups work hard to ___ atrocities and protect victims.
6.Atrocities are not accidents; they are ___ acts meant to cause pain or fear.
7.When news tells us about atrocities, it usually makes people feel ___ and want to help.