massacre
noun · verb
Simple meaning
The killing of a considerable number where little or no resistance can be made, with indiscriminate violence, without necessity, and/or contrary to civilized norms.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
masuhkerSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈmæsəkɚ
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
The killing of a considerable number (usually limited to people) where little or no resistance can be made, with indiscriminate violence, without necessity, and/or contrary to civilized norms.
figuratively
Any overwhelming defeat, as in a game or sport.
verb
transitive
To kill in considerable numbers where little or no resistance can be made, with indiscriminate violence, without necessity, and contrary to civilized norms. (Often limited to the killing of human beings.)
transitiveproscribed
To kill with great force or brutality.
transitivefiguratively
To win against (an opponent) very decisively.
transitivefiguratively
To perform (a work, such as a musical piece or a play) very poorly.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Frequency
- Moderately Common
- Typical Use
- Neutral / general English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: The killing of a considerable number (usually limited to people) where little or no resistance can be made, with indiscriminate violence, without necessity, and/or contrary to civilized norms.
Used this way, massacre is a reasonably familiar word with a clearly unfavourable pull. It comes across as direct, sometimes bluntly so.
- Emotional tone
- Negative
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Gentle
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Serious and weighty
- Usage feel
- Blunt and forceful
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use massacre
- “The Hutus massacred the Tutsis in Rwanda.”verb
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Related Words
Connected to the same idea, not synonyms.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
noun
Sense: killing of a considerable number (usually limited to people) where little
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