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

The bloodshed returns after another 11-year hiatus, but the spatter is messier, thicker, and darker, seeping into a new vision by Ready or Not directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. — Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2026

Jean called on Haitian authorities to take the necessary steps to stop the bloodshed and dismantle the armed groups. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026

What is more likely to happen is a third uprising on the West Bank, followed by massive bloodshed between Palestinians and settlers. — Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 18 Aug. 2026

The legacy of the steppe is not simply one of bloodshed and the muscular assertion of power, just as the legacy of European history is not just one of laws and the orderly restraint of power. — Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 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