carnage
/ˈkɑːnɪdʒ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɑːrnɪdʒ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkär-nij/ (ame, mw)
carnage — noun
1. a scene of violent, brutal killing in which many people die, especially during a
a scene of violent, brutal killing in which many people die, especially during a battle or war
Amir walked across the battlefield, stunned by the carnage of fallen soldiers and wrecked tanks.
carnage + of + noun phrase: carnage of fallen soldiers
The historian's book examines the carnage of the First World War through soldiers' letters home.
Ingrid turned away, unable to watch the carnage in the film's battle scene.
After the explosion, rescue crews faced terrible carnage inside the collapsed building.
Kwesi's grandfather rarely spoke about the carnage he had seen during the independence war.
- massacre
stresses the deliberate, cruel killing of many people who cannot defend themselves
- slaughter
emphasises brutal, indiscriminate killing on a large scale; also used for killing animals for meat
- bloodshed
focuses on the violence and injury rather than the number of dead; can refer to any violent conflict
- butchery
emphasises the savage, cruel manner of the killing; stronger emotional charge than 'carnage'
用法筆記
Uncountable noun — never used with 'a' or in the plural. Describes the resulting scene of violent death rather than the act of killing itself. In informal contexts, sometimes used hyperbolically for non-lethal chaos (for example, 'the carnage after the sale').