bodice ripper

noun

Definition of bodice ripper

: a historical or Gothic romance typically featuring scenes in which the heroine is subjected to violence

Examples of bodice ripper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Interpreters have treated it as everything from a bodice ripper to a deep philosophical treatise. — Tony Adler, Chicago Reader, "Arts / Theater Anna Karenina, the love bug," 26 Feb. 2018 From Guillermo del Toro, this lavish love story between a mute cleaning woman, played by Sally Hawkins, and a scaly amphibian man, played by Doug Jones, is part of a grand tradition of human-monster cinematic bodice rippers. — Bruce Fretts, New York Times, "Would You Swipe Right on Amphibian Man From ‘The Shape of Water’?," 22 Feb. 2018

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

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