massacre

[ mas-uh-ker ]
/ ˈmæs ə kər /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR massacre ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the unnecessary, indiscriminate killing of a large number of human beings or animals, as in barbarous warfare or persecution or for revenge or plunder.
a general slaughter, as of persons or animals: the massacre of millions during the war.
Informal. a crushing defeat, especially in sports.

verb (used with object), mas·sa·cred, mas·sa·cring.

to kill unnecessarily and indiscriminately, especially a large number of persons.
Informal. to defeat decisively, especially in sports.

Origin of massacre

1575–85; (noun) < Middle French massacre, noun derivative of massacrer, Old French maçacrer, macecler, probably < Vulgar Latin *matteūcculāre, verbal derivative of *matteūca mallet (see mashie, mace1); (v.) < Middle French massacrer

OTHER WORDS FROM massacre

mas·sa·crer [mas-uh-krer] /ˈmæs ə krər/, noun un·mas·sa·cred, adjective

Words nearby massacre

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Words related to massacre

murder, slaughter, bloodbath, genocide, extermination, carnage, bloodshed, assassination, annihilate, exterminate, slay, butcher, decimate, annihilation, butchery, decimation, depopulate

Example sentences from the Web for massacre

British Dictionary definitions for massacre

massacre
/ (ˈmæsəkə) /

noun

the wanton or savage killing of large numbers of people, as in battle
informal an overwhelming defeat, as in a game

verb (tr)

to kill indiscriminately or in large numbers
informal to defeat overwhelmingly

Derived forms of massacre

massacrer (ˈmæsəkrə), noun

Word Origin for massacre

C16: from Old French, of unknown origin