bloodshed

noun

blood·​shed ˈbləd-ˌshed How to pronounce bloodshed (audio)
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
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.
The flag is split horizontally with the red arched into the blue, signifying the bloodshed of the enslaved and depicting a new horizon. Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2025 In a joint statement, Iran’s Nobel laureates Narges Mohammadi and Shirin Ebadi, filmmakers Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof, and civil society voices urged world leaders to halt uranium enrichment and end the bloodshed of innocents in Iran and Israel. Nazanin Boniadi, Time, 17 June 2025 The United States, meanwhile, has done little to stop the bloodshed. Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2025 Authorities have not released their names nor said what led to the bloodshed. Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for bloodshed

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bloodshed was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Bloodshed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bloodshed. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

bloodshed

noun
blood·​shed -ˌshed How to pronounce bloodshed (audio)
1
: the shedding of blood
2
: the taking of life : slaughter

More from Merriam-Webster on bloodshed

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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