Definition

1. Noun:

   • The savage and excessive killing of many people: An act of mass killing, typically of a large number of defenseless or unresisting people, often in a brutal or indiscriminate manner.

2. Verb:

   • To kill a large number of people indiscriminately: To slaughter a multitude of people, often in a cruel and unrestrained way.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The history books describe the event as a brutal massacre.
  • Survivors of the massacre were deeply traumatized.

• Verb:

  • The invading army was accused of massacring the civilian population.
  • Entire villages were massacred during the conflict.

Advanced Usage

• "to be a massacre": to be a situation involving a severe defeat or a large number of casualties, often used metaphorically in sports or competitions.

  • The final score was 10-0; it was a complete massacre on the soccer field.

• "to massacre a language/song": (informal, figurative) to perform or speak something very poorly.

  • He completely massacred the pronunciation of her name.

Variants and Related Words

• Massacrer (noun): One who commits a massacre.
  • The trial sought to bring the massacrers to justice.

Synonyms

• Slaughter (noun/verb): To kill (people or animals) in a violent or cruel way.
• Pogrom (noun): An organized massacre, especially of a particular ethnic group.
• Carnage (noun): The killing of a large number of people.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

(Note: "Massacre" does not commonly form standard phrasal verbs. Its usage is typically direct.)

Related Idioms

• "A massacre of the innocents": A phrase often used to describe the killing of children or harmless people, sometimes referencing specific historical or biblical events.
  • The painting depicted the massacre of the innocents.

Noun

1. the savage and excessive killing of many people

Verb

1. kill a large number of people indiscriminately
   • The Hutus massacred the Tutsis in Rwanda