pogrom

1 of 2

noun

po·​grom pə-ˈgräm How to pronounce pogrom (audio)
-ˈgrəm, 
pō-;
ˈpō-grəm, 
ˈpä- How to pronounce pogrom (audio)
Synonyms of pogromnext
: an organized massacre of helpless people
specifically : such a massacre of Jews

pogrom

2 of 2

verb

pogromed; pogroming; pogroms

transitive verb

: to massacre or destroy in a pogrom

Examples of pogrom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
My parents escaped the pogroms of eastern Europe, came here and faced hardships. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2026 Blacks endured slavery, Jim Crow, and segregation; Jews carried centuries of antisemitism, pogroms, and exclusion. — Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 24 May 2026 Batra left India in the 1980s, after her parents were murdered during a state pogrom against Sikhs, according to the Texas Observer. — Brooke Migdon, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026 While the Chinese pavilion charmed visitors to the Centennial, Chinese immigrants in California were enduring racist pogroms. — Fergus M. Bordewich, Time, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pogrom

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Yiddish, from Russian, literally, devastation

First Known Use

Noun

1891, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1915, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pogrom was in 1891

Rhymes for pogrom

See All Rhymes for pogrom

Browse Nearby Words

pogo stick
pogrom
pogromist
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Cite this Entry

“Pogrom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pogrom. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pogrom

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pogrom

Nglish: Translation of pogrom for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pogrom

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