carnage

noun

car·​nage ˈkär-nij 

1

: the flesh of slain animals or humans

a multitude of dogs came to feast on the carnage

—T. B. Macaulay

2

: great and usually bloody slaughter or injury (as in battle)

the carnage of war

Synonyms

• bloodbath
• butchery
• death
• holocaust
• massacre
• slaughter

Examples of carnage in a Sentence

Reporters described the highway accident as a scene of carnage.

the appalling carnage in that war-torn country requires that the outside world intervene

Recent Examples on the Web

The urgency and depth of the national crisis compelled them to create narratives addressing the intimate human consequences of the unspeakable carnage around them. —Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024

One casualty of this carnage is Lawtey’s Rob, another character who comes to see the light as he’s betrayed by Yasmin (whom he’s had a crush on since Season 1). —Carole Horst, Variety, 14 Dec. 2024

By the end of this year’s finale, the Lioness team has wrought an even nastier trail of carnage on two different continents. —Andy Andersen, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2024

All people long to fit in—and some people just happen to find that in the world of nonstop carnage. —Barry Levitt, TIME, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, from Medieval Latin carnaticum tribute consisting of animals or meat, from Latin carn-, caro — see carnal

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

carnage

noun

car·​nage ˈkär-nij 

: great destruction of life (as in battle) : slaughter