What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Massacre vs Affray - What's the difference?

massacre | affray |

As verbs the difference between massacre and affray

is that massacre is while affray is to startle from quiet; to alarm.

As a noun affray is

the act of suddenly disturbing any one; an assault or attack.

massacre

English

Alternative forms

* massacer (archaic)

Noun

(en noun)
  • The intentional killing of a considerable number of human beings, under circumstances of atrocity or cruelty, or contrary to the norms of civilized people.
    • the massacre on St. Bartholomew's Day
    St. Valentine's Day''' '''massacre
    Amritsar''' '''massacre
  • (obsolete) Murder.
  • * 1593 , , 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.
  • (figuratively) An overwhelming defeat.

    • Synonyms

    * butchery, carnage, slaughter. *: Massacre denotes the promiscuous slaughter of many who can not make resistance, or much resistance. *:* 1592 , , 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 , , 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 , , Paradise Lost *:*: Such a scent I draw Of carnage , prey innumerable!

    Related terms

    * mass murder * massacrer * massacree

    Verb

    (massacr)
  • To kill in considerable numbers where much resistance can not be made; to kill with indiscriminate violence, without necessity, and contrary to the norms of civilized people; to butcher; to slaughter.
  • * 1849 , , 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
  • (figuratively)

    • affray

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of suddenly disturbing any one; an assault or attack.
  • A tumultuous assault or quarrel.
  • The fighting of two or more persons, in a public place, to the terror of others.
    • The affray in the busy marketplace caused great terror and disorder.

    Synonyms

    * fray, brawl. * alarm, terror, fright.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To startle from quiet; to alarm.
  • * Chaucer
    • Smale foules a great heap / That had afrayed [affrayed] me out of my sleep.
  • To frighten; to scare; to frighten away.
  • * Shakespeare
    • That voice doth us affray .