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What is the difference between slaughter and massacre?

slaughter | massacre |

Massacre is a synonym of slaughter.



In transitive terms the difference between slaughter and massacre

is that slaughter is to kill in a particularly brutal manner while massacre is 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. Often limited to the killing of human beings.

As a proper noun Slaughter

is {{surname|lang=en}.

slaughter

English

(wikipedia slaughter)

Alternative forms

* (l) (obsolete)

Noun

(-)
  • (uncountable) The killing of animals, generally for food; ritual slaughter (kosher and halal).
  • A massacre; the killing of a large number of people.
  • * Milton
    • on war and mutual slaughter bent
  • A rout or decisive defeat.

    • Derived terms

    * kosher slaughter * lamb to the slaughter/like a lamb to the slaughter/come like a lamb to the slaughter * manslaughter * ritual slaughter * slaughterer * slaughterhouse * slaughterman * slaughterous

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To butcher animals, generally for food
  • To massacre people in large numbers
  • To kill in a particularly brutal manner

    • Anagrams

    * English transitive verbs

    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)