Etymology

Noun

1. The intentional killing of a considerable number of human beings, under circumstances of atrocity or cruelty, or contrary to the usages of civilized people.

   the massacre on St. Bartholomew's Day

   St. Valentine's Day massacre

   Amritsar massacre

   the Wounded Knee massacre

2. Murder.
   • 1593, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Richard the Third

     The tyrannous and bloody act is done,—

     The most arch deed of piteous massacre

     That ever yet this land was guilty of.

Synonyms

• butchery, carnage

  Massacre denotes the promiscuous slaughter of many who can not make resistance, or much resistance.

  • 1592, William Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus, I,v

    I'll find a day to massacre them all, And raze their faction and their family

  Butchery refers to cold-blooded cruelty in the killing of men as if they were brute beasts.

  • 1593, William Shakespeare, Richard III, I,ii

    If thou delight to view thy heinous deeds, Behold this pattern of thy butcheries

  Carnage points to slaughter as producing the heaped-up bodies of the slain.

  • 1674, John Milton, Paradise Lost

    Such a scent I draw Of carnage, prey innumerable!

Verb

1. To kill in considerable numbers where much resistance can not be made; to kill with indiscriminate violence, without necessity, and contrary to the usages of nations; to butcher; to slaughter - limited to the killing of human beings.
   • 1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History Of England From the Accession of James II

     If James should be pleased to massacre them all, as Maximilian had massacred the Theban legion