bruise

noun

\ ˈbrüz

Definition of bruise

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : an injury involving rupture of small blood vessels and discoloration without a break in the overlying skin : contusion

b : a similar injury to plant tissue

2 : abrasion, scratch

3 : an injury especially to the feelings criticisms that left a bruise

bruise

verb

bruised; bruising

Definition of bruise (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to inflict an injury involving rupture of small blood vessels and discoloration without a break in the overlying skin or a similar injury to plant tissue : to inflict a bruise (see bruise entry 1 sense 1) on : contuse bruised her arm when he grabbed her

2 : to break down (leaves, berries, etc.) by pounding : crush

3 : wound, injure especially : to inflict psychological hurt on The professional and personal tumbles that have bruised your ego in the past 12 months are over. — New Woman

4a : batter, dent bruise armor

b archaic : disable

intransitive verb

1 : to bear or show the effects of a bruise : to undergo bruising her skin bruises easily

2 : to inflict a bruise

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About bruise

Examples of bruise in a Sentence

Noun He had a bad bruise on his leg after he fell. a bruise on an apple Verb She bruised her knee when she fell. I don't want to bruise anyone's feelings.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The hit left Smith with a deep bruise under his eye. — Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 31 July 2022 Trevor Story has not come along from his right hand bruise as quickly as the Red Sox had expected. — Julian Mcwilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2022 The line drive ended Nelson’s season after a CT scan showed a dime-sized bruise. — Bobby Nightengale, The Enquirer, 29 July 2022 Jackson, sidelined last season by a bone bruise in his ankle, is healthy and expected to participate fully amid ongoing contract negotiations. — Jonas Shaffer, Baltimore Sun, 26 July 2022 During that victory, the 6-foot-11, 223-pound Serb suffered the quadriceps bruise that sidelined him since. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2022 His recovery was complicated by a deep bone bruise suffered before the meniscus injury, which repeatedly forced him to shut down efforts to ramp back up to full speed because of lingering pain. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2022 Its aesthetic, like other films produced by A24, has an air of gentrified graffiti, a palette like a neon bruise. — Namwali Serpell, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2022 The victim accused Kimery of physically attacking her during an argument and hitting her in the eye, leaving a bruise, before handcuffing and raping her. — Tess Vrbin, Arkansas Online, 11 June 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Companies, already warned to remain alert to potential Russian cyberattacks, are battling operations by online activists aiming to bruise corporate reputations amid the war in Ukraine. — WSJ, 18 Apr. 2022 Companies, already warned to remain alert to potential Russian cyberattacks, are battling operations by online activists aiming to bruise corporate reputations amid the war in Ukraine. — WSJ, 18 Apr. 2022 The brother of Ohio State running back Miyan Williams, Qierstin, is also waiting to bruise ball carriers. — Scott Springer, The Enquirer, 5 July 2022 Companies, already warned to remain alert to potential Russian cyberattacks, are battling operations by online activists aiming to bruise corporate reputations amid the war in Ukraine. — WSJ, 18 Apr. 2022 Companies, already warned to remain alert to potential Russian cyberattacks, are battling operations by online activists aiming to bruise corporate reputations amid the war in Ukraine. — WSJ, 18 Apr. 2022 Companies, already warned to remain alert to potential Russian cyberattacks, are battling operations by online activists aiming to bruise corporate reputations amid the war in Ukraine. — WSJ, 18 Apr. 2022 As confident as salespeople are, our egos bruise easy. — Adam Herman, Forbes, 18 Apr. 2022 Companies, already warned to remain alert to potential Russian cyberattacks, are battling operations by online activists aiming to bruise corporate reputations amid the war in Ukraine. — Nicolle Liu, WSJ, 5 Apr. 2022 See More

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

History and Etymology for bruise

Noun

noun derivative of bruise entry 2

Verb

Middle English brusen, brisen, from Anglo-French & Old English; Anglo-French bruiser, briser to break, of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish bruid he shatters; Old English brȳsan to bruise; akin to Old Irish bruid, Latin frustum piece

Learn More About bruise

Dictionary Entries Near bruise

bruin

bruise

bruised

Statistics for bruise

Last Updated

4 Aug 2022

Cite this Entry

“Bruise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bruise. Accessed 9 Aug. 2022.

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More Definitions for bruise

bruise

verb

\ ˈbrüz

bruised; bruising

Kids Definition of bruise

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to injure the flesh (as by a blow) without breaking the skin

bruise

noun

Kids Definition of bruise (Entry 2 of 2)

: a black-and-blue spot on the body or a dark spot on fruit caused by an injury or damage

bruise

verb

\ ˈbrüz

bruised; bruising

Medical Definition of bruise

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to inflict a bruise on : contuse

2 : wound, injure especially : to inflict psychological hurt on

intransitive verb

: to undergo bruising she bruises easily

bruise

noun

Medical Definition of bruise (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : an injury transmitted through unbroken skin to underlying tissue causing rupture of small blood vessels and escape of blood into the tissue with resulting discoloration : contusion

2 : an injury especially to the feelings