bloody 1 of 2

Definition of bloodynext

bloody

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective bloody contrast with its synonyms?

The words gory and sanguinary are common synonyms of bloody. While all three words mean "affected by or involving the shedding of blood," bloody is applied especially to things that are actually covered with blood or are made up of blood.

bloody hands

Where would gory be a reasonable alternative to bloody?

In some situations, the words gory and bloody are roughly equivalent. However, gory suggests a profusion of blood and slaughter.

exceptionally gory, even for a horror movie

When could sanguinary be used to replace bloody?

The meanings of sanguinary and bloody largely overlap; however, sanguinary applies especially to something attended by, or someone inclined to, bloodshed.

the Civil War was America's most sanguinary conflict

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bloody
Adjective
Ballast water the likely vector Researchers believe the bloody red shrimp first arrived in the Great Lakes from ballast water released from freighter ships that also travel the oceans. Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 3 July 2026 The once-green grass where a temporary arena held a bloody UFC fight last month has turned brown. Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
Verb
Jones found success using a left hook to the body followed by a straight right hand down the middle that bloodied Gualtieri’s nose. Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 23 May 2026 Festivities kicked off with a trailer narrated by Uma Thurman (objectively cool), and a handful of mostly uncompetitive undercard bouts (save the always game and bloodied Nate Diaz), the crowd loudly booing MVP promoter Jake Paul at his own event, and the graphic getting Rousey’s age wrong. Marlow Stern, Variety, 17 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for bloody
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bloody
Adjective
  • This Lulus dress looks almost identical to the style spotted on Middleton from the flutter sleeves to the statement-making white and red floral pattern.
    Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
  • Balogun, who saw his red-card suspension set aside enabling him to play in Monday night’s win-or-done match.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
Adjective
  • Communist organizers, as Harrington feared, began to reshape the DSA as an ally of any anti-Western force, even the most murderous and oppressive.
    Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
  • Armand looks dissociative and murderous.
    Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Some of these storms could be severe and deliver damaging wind gusts, but any thunderstorm will contain lightning — a major danger for any outdoor activities, especially for anyone trying to escape the heat in or on the water.
    Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • Diseases that damage the kidneys and impair their ability to filter blood were blamed for 55,081 deaths in 2024.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Adjective
  • The dish earns its name from the reddish-brown sauce (reminiscent of barbecue sauce) made with a generous amount of butter, Cajun seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce.
    Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
  • Peach trees only produce fruit on one-year-old wood, which will look thin and reddish brown.
    Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 2 July 2026
Adjective
  • And Addy, perhaps the most brutal American Girl story, is enslaved.
    Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • In January, the government suppressed huge nationwide protests in a brutal crackdown that left thousands dead.
    Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • The World Cup group stage was marred for fans whose experiences mirrored Ramroop’s, leading FIFA and third-party platforms like StubHub to point fingers at each other amid the fallout.
    Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 29 June 2026
  • His previous loan at Girona was marred by injuries, impacting his World Cup aspirations.
    Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Adjective
  • That said, Kimble was asked to scale back one scene with the creature — an attack on a solider in episode two that turned out so gory, Hawley deemed it too much for even FX.
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2026
  • The killing of an East Village man and brutal stabbing of two others in a gory 2024 street fight resulted in an 18-year prison term for the knifeman at his Manhattan Supreme Court sentencing Tuesday.
    Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 26 May 2026
Adjective
  • The Yellow Death has disfigured the population, and soldiers in white-and-red tunics serve the savage Duke of Tviot.
    Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • Josefowicz, in her decathlon of a performance, brought Ligeti’s savage discontinuities to the surface.
    Alex Ross, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bloody.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bloody. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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