bloodshed

noun

blood·​shed ˈbləd-ˌshed How to pronounce bloodshed (audio)
Synonyms of bloodshednext
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.
Another technique for staging bloodshed might involve the candidate superficially wounding himself with a small razor blade, like professional wrestlers do, but that also presents challenges. Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026 The bloodshed was met with a wave of concern by people in and outside of Mexico. ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026 In an emotional news conference Monday, city and state officials condemned the bloodshed and called on community members to advocate for victims of domestic violence. Ryan Chandler, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026 Hours after the bloodshed, tour guide Marco Pavone, 47, brought a group of Italian tourists to Grand Central to look at the iconic subway station. Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bloodshed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bloodshed. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster