mass slaughter of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mass slaughter of" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is often used to describe a large, violent killing of people or animals. For example: "The mass slaughter of innocent civilians in the war-torn country has sparked international outrage." "The documentary sheds light on the mass slaughter of elephants for their ivory tusks." "In the 19th century, the mass slaughter of bison nearly led to their extinction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mass slaughter of digital monsters.

The New York Times

But until this weekend, it had yet to include the mass slaughter of nursery-age infants.

The Guardian

Then there's the mass slaughter of migrating birds in Mediterranean countries.

The Guardian - Opinion

The essential scene of First World War writing is the mass slaughter of the trenches.

The New Yorker

The Argentine public would forgive their mass slaughter of Peronists and leftwingers.

The Guardian

Not surprisingly, this grisly charade failed to erase memories of the mass slaughter of Polish civilians.

The New Yorker

#GadhimaiFestival Sadly, #GadhimaiFestival is not the only mass slaughter of animals.

Independent

In May it ordered the mass slaughter of Egypt's 200,000-odd pigs.

The Economist

For the second time in days, Chinese authorities have ordered a mass slaughter of dogs to curb a rabies outbreak.

The New York Times

It criticized a planned mass slaughter of the animals in Bucharest, which had been overrun with about 200,000 strays.

The New York Times

German atrocities against Belgian civilians or the Austro-Hungarian mass slaughter of Serbs pale beside the Armenian calvary.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider alternative phrases like "large-scale massacre of" or "systematic extermination of" if you want to emphasize the intentional or organized nature of the killing.

Common error

Avoid using "mass slaughter of" when describing situations that involve significant loss or destruction but not direct killing. For example, using it to describe the failure of a product launch might be an exaggeration and inappropriate. Consider using phrases like "massive failure" or "widespread rejection" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mass slaughter of" functions primarily as a noun phrase acting as a subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig provides numerous examples where it describes historical events, ethical issues, or consequences of certain policies. The phrase identifies a violent event that has a large number of victims.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mass slaughter of" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun phrase that describes a large-scale and indiscriminate killing. As Ludwig confirms, it is most commonly found in News & Media contexts and serves to convey the magnitude and brutality of such events. When writing, ensure the context warrants the gravity of this phrase and consider alternative expressions, such as "large-scale massacre of" or "systematic extermination of", to fine-tune the specific nuance you wish to convey. Be cautious about misusing the phrase in contexts that do not involve direct killing, and aim for clarity and precision in your word choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

large-scale massacre of

Replaces "mass slaughter" with "large-scale massacre", emphasizing the violent and indiscriminate nature of the killing.

mass extermination of

Replaces "mass slaughter" with "mass extermination", highlighting a deliberate effort to eliminate a group.

widespread killing of

Uses "widespread killing" instead of "mass slaughter", offering a more general term for extensive fatalities.

massive killing of

Replaces "mass slaughter" with "massive killing", offering a more general term for extensive fatalities.

systematic extermination of

Replaces "mass slaughter" with "systematic extermination", highlighting a deliberate and organized effort to eliminate a group.

general extermination of

Replaces "mass slaughter" with "general extermination", highlighting a deliberate effort to eliminate a large group of subjects.

large-scale annihilation of

Substitutes "mass slaughter" with "large-scale annihilation", emphasizing the complete destruction and obliteration of something.

extensive decimation of

Uses "extensive decimation" instead of "mass slaughter", highlighting the severe reduction in number.

wholesale destruction of

Substitutes "mass slaughter" with "wholesale destruction", shifting the focus to the complete annihilation of something, not necessarily limited to living beings.

carnage of

Replaces the whole phrase with "carnage of", emphasizing the bloody and brutal nature of the event.

FAQs

What does "mass slaughter of" mean?

The phrase "mass slaughter of" refers to the large-scale and indiscriminate killing of a group of individuals, often implying a violent or brutal nature. It can be used to describe the killing of people or animals.

What are some synonyms for "mass slaughter of"?

Synonyms include "large-scale massacre of", "systematic extermination of", "wholesale destruction of", and "widespread killing of" depending on the specific context.

How is "mass slaughter of" different from "genocide"?

"Mass slaughter of" describes the act of large-scale killing, while "genocide" refers to the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. Genocide has a specific legal definition under international law.

Is it appropriate to use "mass slaughter of" in all contexts?

No, it is not always appropriate. The phrase "mass slaughter of" carries a strong connotation of violence and brutality. It should be used carefully and only when the situation genuinely involves the large-scale killing of individuals. Consider using more neutral terms if the context does not warrant such a strong description.