bloodshed

noun

blood·​shed ˈbləd-ˌshed 

1

: the shedding of blood

2

: the taking of life : slaughter

Examples of bloodshed in a Sentence

Years of violence and bloodshed have left much of the country in ruins.

Recent Examples on the Web

Motoki portrays Murashige as curiously recessive — someone who has laid waste to myriad foes and has now lost his taste for bloodshed. — Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

Even in 2026, the category’s identity is anchored in infamous scenes of maiming, torture, and cathartic bloodshed. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 22 July 2026

The Greens appear to be in disarray, and Rhaenyra may hope this is the end of the bloodshed, but Ormund quickly becomes a new thorn in her side. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 July 2026

With no end in sight to the fighting after one year of bloodshed, the IOC reiterates its condemnation of the war in Ukraine, which is a blatant violation of the Olympic Truce that was in effect at the time, and the Olympic Charter. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bloodshed

• abed
• ahead
• beachhead
• bedspread
• bedstead
• behead
• blackhead
• blockhead
• bowhead
• breastfed
• bridgehead
• broadhead

Kids Definition

bloodshed

noun

blood·​shed -ˌshed 

1

: the shedding of blood

2

: the taking of life : slaughter