Carnage

Carnage refers to the widespread killing of people or extensive destruction resulting in a large death toll. The term conveys graphic slaughter and is commonly used in journalism, history, and literature to describe aftermaths of battles, massacres, disasters, or other episodes of extreme violence. Its etymology traces to Old French carnage, from Latin carnis “flesh.”

In conflict and crisis contexts, carnage is used to convey scale of casualties and the visceral impact of violence. It is often distinguished from related terms such as massacre and slaughter, though overlap exists; carnage emphasizes the physical devastation and bodies, while massacre highlights intentional killings of many individuals.

In culture, “Carnage” appears as a title in film and comics. The 2011 film Carnage, directed by Roman Polanski, adapts Yasmina Reza’s stage play God of Carnage. In Marvel Comics, Carnage is the supervillain form of the serial killer Cletus Kasady, bonded to the alien symbiote; first appearing in The Amazing Spider-Man #361 (April 1992), created by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane.