massacre

plural massacres · alternative archaic massacer

1. countableuncountableThe 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.

   Amritsar Massacre

   5 more examples

   St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre

   Massacres of Diyarbekir

   St. Valentine's Day Massacre

   I'll find a day to massacre them all, And raze their faction and their family

   c. 1588–1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v]

   The massacre that ripped apart 17 families in Parkland, Florida, five years ago on Valentine’s Day ignited a wave of student-led protests and bipartisan legislation to combat the plague of school shootings devastating the country.

   2023 February 14, Holly Yan, “5 years after the Parkland school massacre claimed 17 lives, here’s what has changed (and what hasn’t)”, in CNN

   Synonyms: butchery, slaughter, decimation

2. countableobsoleteuncountableMurder.

   The tyrannous and bloody act is done,— The most arch deed of piteous massacre That ever yet this land was guilty of.

   c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

3. countablefigurativelyuncountableAny overwhelming defeat, as in a game or sport.

present singular third person massacres · participle present massacring · participle past massacred · past massacred · alternative archaic massacer

1. transitiveTo 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.)

   If James should be pleased to massacre them all, as Maximilian had massacred the Theban legion

   1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC

2. figurativelytransitiveTo win against (an opponent) very decisively.
3. figurativelytransitiveTo perform (a work, such as a musical piece or a play) very poorly.
4. proscribedtransitiveTo kill with great force or brutality.

   Look how they massacred my boy.

   1972, The Godfather (film)