holocaust

The killing of very large numbers of people or animals, often with widespread destruction.

• They feared a nuclear holocaust.
• The film imagines life after a holocaust.
• Survivors described the holocaust that destroyed their communities.

Similar words: massacre, slaughter, annihilation

Common phrases: nuclear holocaust, prevent a holocaust

An animal or other gift to a god that is burned completely during a religious ceremony.

• The priest offered a holocaust at the altar.
• The animal became a holocaust during the ceremony.
• Ancient accounts describe holocausts offered to the gods.

Similar words: burnt offering

Common phrases: offer a holocaust, ritual holocaust

A very large or complete sacrifice of something valuable.

• The poet called their sacrifice a holocaust.
• They offered a holocaust of their wealth to the cause.
• The story ends with a great holocaust of personal hopes.

How to use it: holocaust of something (The war demanded a holocaust of young lives.)

Similar words: sacrifice, offering

Common phrases: holocaust of something, great holocaust

Complete destruction by fire, or something that has been completely destroyed by fire.

• The fire turned the village into a holocaust.
• Nothing survived the fiery holocaust.
• The writer described the burned city as a holocaust.

How to use it: holocaust of something (The blaze became a holocaust of homes and shops.)

Similar words: conflagration

Common phrases: fiery holocaust, holocaust of something

To burn an animal or another gift completely as an offering to a god.

• The priests prepared to holocaust the animal.
• They holocausted a bull as an offering.
• The account describes animals being holocausted during the ritual.

How to use it: holocaust something (The priests would holocaust a ram at the altar.)

Similar words: sacrifice

Common phrases: holocaust an animal, holocaust a victim

To destroy something completely, especially by burning it.

• The fire seemed ready to holocaust the village.
• Flames holocausted the wooden buildings.
• The city had been holocausted in a single night.

How to use it: holocaust something (The flames threatened to holocaust the settlement.)

Similar words: destroy, annihilate

Common phrases: holocaust a city, holocaust something completely

To kill all or very many members of a group of people.

• The invaders threatened to holocaust the population.
• The writer described entire communities being holocausted.
• The army had holocausted thousands of civilians.

How to use it: holocaust someone (The account accuses the invaders of attempting to holocaust the population.)

Similar words: massacre, exterminate, annihilate

Common phrases: holocaust a population, holocaust entire communities