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pogrom

pogrom

10 9.9
An organized violent attack against a group of people of the same race or religion often allowed by authorities
  • noun
  • /ˈpoʊɡrəm/
  • Offensive
translation icon : pogromo
  • During the 1903 pogrom in Kishinev, many Jewish families lost their homes and lives.
  • anti-Semitic pogroms
  • pogroms against Jews
  • Jewish pogroms

There were then pogroms after pogroms after pogroms of the returning Jews.

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Examples

  • In subsequent weeks, the pogrom was extended to all the areas of the country under Kabila's control.

    Academic text (2004)
  • My father never mentioned this walk to me, nor did we dwell on the pogrom at home.

    Academic text (1998)
  • And again, pogroms in Russia had been a thing for a very long time.

  • Now it is writing about pogroms against Black people in America.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Most of us left at the beginning of the Revolution because of the pogroms.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • If there was ever a thoroughly organized pogrom, it was Kristallnacht.

    Academic text (1998)
  • U.S. forces did little to prevent the pogroms and looting.

    Academic text (2007)
  • People should not be killed in pogroms by brutes who hate them merely because they are different.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • On November 10th of the same year, Crystal Night, a nationwide pogrom, was perpetrated against the Reich's Jewish population.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The shtetl population was exploding, poverty was rampant, and there were waves of pogroms against Jews, especially in 1881-1882 and thereafter.

    Academic text (2009)

Synonyms

massacre
vspogrom
  • Offensive
198 7.0

The violent killing of many people in a cruel way

targets a specific ethnic group and is often condoned by authorities
mass murder
vspogrom
  • NSFW
38 6.7

Killing many people on purpose at the same time or in a short time

involves similar violence but targets an ethnic group and may be state supported
tragic massacre
vspogrom
  • NSFW
8.3

A violent event where many people are killed and people feel deep sorrow

emphasizes ethnic targeting and organized attack rather than only causing sorrow

How Violent

genocide
  • Offensive
147 7.7
ethnic cleansing
  • Offensive
24 9.9
pogrom
  • Offensive
10 9.9
riot
329 4.1
disturbance
45 3.7

Surface Forms

pogrom singular
pogroms plural

Etymology

The word pogrom comes from the Russian word pogrom, which meant 'great destruction' and has the parts po- ('completely') and grom ('thunder'). So pogrom now means a violent, often organized attack against a particular group, especially attacks on Jewish communities in the past.