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
First recorded in 1575–85; (noun), from Middle French massacre, noun derivative of massacrer,Old French maçacrer, macecler, probably from unattested Vulgar Latin matteūcculāre, verbal derivative of unattested matteūca “mallet” (see mashie, mace1); (verb) from Middle French massacrer
Massachusett, Massachusetts, Massachusetts ballot, Massachusetts Bay, Massachusetts Bay Company, massacre, Massacre of the Innocents, mass affluent, massage, massage parlor, massage parlour
At Republicans’ convention in Cleveland in 2016, one month after the massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, this president showed he could say “LGBT.”
LGBTQ: The letters Republicans didn’t utter|Hans Johnson|September 11, 2020|Washington Blade
Inside Stonewall, Pine gave his officers the order not to shoot, fearing that any additional escalation could lead to a full-scale massacre.
How the New York Media Covered The Stonewall Riots|LGBTQ-Editor|June 23, 2020|No Straight News
The massacre of cartoonists at the French magazine Charlie Hebdo is a crystallizing moment.
Why We Stand With Charlie Hebdo—And You Should Too|John Avlon|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Several Muslim sites in France, including mosques have been attacked or vandalized since the Charlie Hebdo massacre.
Europe’s Islam Haters Say We Told You So|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
What often is forgotten—and what Beck could probably stand to remember—is that the massacre was, technically, a firefight.
Glenn Beck Is Now Selling Hipster Clothes. Really.|Ana Marie Cox|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Will “loyalty cards” be enough to stave of a Republican massacre of House Democrats on Tuesday?
The Democrats’ Simple Midterm Weapon|Ben Jacobs|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The massacre of more than 100 men, women, and children in Houla?
The Kardashian Look-Alike Trolling for Assad|Noah Shachtman, Michael Kennedy|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the massacre succeeded beyond the most sanguine expectations of the conspirators.
History of the Rise of the Huguenots|Henry Baird
It was a massacre rather than a battle, and Henry's spirit was humbled.
The Normans|Sarah Orne Jewett
It is then natural to suppose that he also died in the massacre of July and August, 64.
English Conferences of Ernest Renan|Ernest Renan
No word from her since we got the news of the massacre at Avon this afternoon!
Carmen Ariza|Charles Francis Stocking
The Governor, also, sent down a body of troops to the scene of the massacre.
The Middle Period 1817-1858|John William Burgess
British Dictionary definitions for massacre
massacre
/ (ˈmæsəkə) /
noun
the wanton or savage killing of large numbers of people, as in battle