Definition

1. Noun:
   • The savage and excessive killing of many people: "Carnage" refers to the violent and large-scale slaughter of people, often in a brutal and bloody manner, typically during a war, massacre, or disaster.

Usage

• "Carnage" is a formal and powerful noun used to describe scenes of extreme violence and mass death. It emphasizes the brutality, chaos, and scale of the killing. It is often used in historical, journalistic, or literary contexts.

Examples

• The battlefield was a scene of utter carnage after the day-long assault.
• The terrorist attack resulted in horrific carnage among the civilian population.
• Photographs from the accident site showed the carnage on the highway.

Advanced Usage

• "to wreak carnage": to cause widespread and savage killing.
  • The invading army proceeded to wreak carnage upon the defenseless villages.
• "scene of carnage": a place or situation characterized by massive slaughter.
  • Rescue workers arrived at the scene of carnage left by the explosion.

Variants and Related Words

• Slaughter (n): the killing of many people or animals in a violent way. (Often used interchangeably with "carnage," though "slaughter" can also apply to animals for food.)
• Massacre (n): an indiscriminate and brutal slaughter of people.
• Bloodbath (n): a violent event where many people are killed; similar in meaning to "carnage" but can be slightly more informal.
• Butchery (n): the cruel or violent killing of people, emphasizing a lack of mercy.

Synonyms

• Havoc: widespread destruction, often involving great loss of life.
• Holocaust: destruction or slaughter on a mass scale (often capitalized when referring to specific historical events).
• Annihilation: complete destruction, so that nothing remains.

Related Phrases

• Carnage ensued: This phrase describes a situation where widespread killing began and followed as a result.
  • After the walls were breached, carnage ensued within the city.

Noun

1. the savage and excessive killing of many people