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 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

The most potent reminder of the bloodshed lies in the thousands of people buried under debris. — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 5 July 2026

The Philadelphia Daily News on June 8, 1976 reported that Rizzo was warning of bloodshed in the streets unless the federal and state government provided troops to patrol the city. — Chris Brennan, USA Today, 2 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