bloody

adjective

\ ˈblə-dē

bloodier; bloodiest

Definition of bloody

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : containing or made up of blood

b : of or contained in the blood

2 : smeared or stained with blood

3a : accompanied by or involving bloodshed especially : marked by great slaughter a bloody battle

b : marked by fierce conflict In the end the litigation proved exhaustive and bloody but successful.— David Wild

4a : murderous

b : merciless, cruel

5 : bloodred

6 British, informal + sometimes offensive : damned —often used as an intensive acting like a bloody fool

bloody

verb

bloodied; bloodying

Definition of bloody (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to make bloody or bloodred a punch that bloodied his nose

2 : harm, damage an administration bloodied by scandal

bloody

adverb

Definition of bloody (Entry 3 of 3)

British, informal + sometimes offensive

—used as an intensive a bloody awful mistakehad a bloody good time

Other Words from bloody Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about bloody

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Choose the Right Synonym for bloody

Adjective

bloody, sanguinary, gory mean affected by or involving the shedding of blood. bloody is applied especially to things that are actually covered with blood or are made up of blood. bloody hands sanguinary applies especially to something attended by, or someone inclined to, bloodshed. the Civil War was America's most sanguinary conflict gory suggests a profusion of blood and slaughter. exceptionally gory, even for a horror movie

Examples of bloody in a Sentence

Adjective

He hit me and gave me a bloody nose. after the fight, her shirt was all bloody

Verb

He hit me and bloodied my nose. the politician's reputation was permanently bloodied by the rumors of corruption

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

After watching in terror as a man violently attacked a police officer in an El Cajon fast-food restaurant, Iesha Booker checked for a pulse on the bloody, unconscious officer and yelled into the radio on his belt. — Karen Kucher, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Bus driver screams 'Officer down!' into radio of injured cop," 19 July 2017 Photos of the man in a hospital bed with a bloody mouth were also posted. — Jonece Starr Dunigan, AL.com, "Man accuses Rainbow City police of brutality; police refute," 14 July 2017 A man found the baby bloody but still breathing and asked security at the building to call 911, prosecutors said at the time. — Chicago Tribune Staff, chicagotribune.com, "Woman admits to dropping baby to death in Uptown, gets probation," 10 July 2017 His comments came after weeks of saber-rattling in New Delhi and Beijing, as officials from both sides talk up a potential clash even bloodier than their 1962 war that left thousands dead. — Bloomberg.com, "China Demands India Leave Himalayan Plateau in Rising Spat," 6 July 2017 For example, at Chester’s Roman Amphitheatre, centurion Marcus Aurelius Nepos tells about England’s bloody combat history at the spot. — Jennifer Billock, Smithsonian, "Five Augmented Reality Experiences That Bring Museum Exhibits to Life," 30 June 2017 Collapsing the roof isn’t a spur-of-the-moment thing, either—our experience involved about three minutes, two swearing fits, and at least one bloody knuckle. — Mike Duff, Car and Driver, "2018 Morgan 4/4," 30 June 2017 Instead, there’s glee for Trump’s base in watching Trump bring justice to the streets of media Gotham, flinging Batarangs of acerbic nastiness at Mika Brzezinski’s bloody face. — Ben Shapiro, National Review, "No One Emerges from Trump’s Feud with the Media Looking Good," 5 July 2017 His next memory was waking up on the floor with a bloody nose and painful headache. — Michael Osipoff, Post-Tribune, "RailCats release former Portage star after criminal charges filed," 3 July 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The dog's death comes nearly a year after a passenger was bloodied and battered when he was dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight in Chicago for refusing to give up the seat. — Hugo Martin, latimes.com, "Dog death on United Airlines prompts legislative proposal and policy change," 15 Mar. 2018 The preview opens with Stark, sweaty, bloodied, and out of breath, sprinting down the halls and checking behind her back. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "There's a Crazy Theory Explaining Why Arya Stark Was Running in the Game of Thrones Season 8 Trailer," 8 Mar. 2019 As a fourth-grader, Nikolas Cruz would try to bloody them with his pellet gun. — Kevin Sullivan, Washington Post, "Fla. shooting suspect had a history of explosive anger, depression, killing animals," 6 Mar. 2018 Delicia Cordon alleges McCoy failed to protect her after she was bloodied, beaten and had $133,000 worth of jewelry stolen by an intruder at a home the running back owns in Milton, just outside Atlanta. — Fox News, "Mother of LeSean McCoy's son claims abuse by Bills star," 18 Sep. 2018 My little brother thankfully lived, but his best friend, bloodied in his arms, died. — Fox News, "Was there anything illegal about the Trump Tower meeting?," 6 Aug. 2018 Just hours after the home invasion, a friend of Cordon posted a picture showing Cordon bruised and bloodied in what appeared to be an ambulance or hospital. — NBC News, "NFL player LeSean McCoy's estranged ex-girlfriend attacked during home invasion," 11 July 2018 His truck was bloodied, his right arm dripping and painful. — Alan Blinder, New York Times, "‘I Just Wanted to Live,’ Says Man Who Wrested Rifle From Waffle House Gunman," 23 Apr. 2018 My prayer is that Good Friday will spur a true inner conversion, a turning of my heart and mind completely to the one who was bloodied, bullied and beaten. — Atlanta Life, ajc, "Crucifixion still happening in the world today," 23 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bloody.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.