bruise

verb \ ˈbrüz \

|Updated on: 10 Aug 2018

Examples: bruise in a Sentence

Definition of bruise

bruised; bruising

transitive verb

1 a archaic : disable

b : batter, dent

bruise armor

2 : 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 ²bruise 1) on : contuse

bruised her arm when he grabbed her

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

4 : 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

intransitive verb

1 : to inflict a bruise

2 : to bear or show the effects of a bruise : to undergo bruising

her skin bruises easily

See bruise defined for English-language learners

See bruise defined for kids

Examples of bruise in a Sentence

She bruised her knee when she fell.
I don't want to bruise anyone's feelings.

Recent Examples of bruise from the Web

Patients commonly experience bruising from wayward blood draws, and can rarely (less than 1 in 20,000) receive injuries to their arm nerves.

— emily matchar, Smithsonian, "A Robot May One Day Draw Your Blood," 13 July 2018
The harsh rhetoric suggested that Trump had no intention of patching up relationships bruised by a contentious Group of Seven summit in Canada last month.

— gregory korte, USA TODAY, "Trump blasts Germany as being 'captive to Russia' in tiff over NATO defense spending," 11 July 2018
The fragile, three-party coalition that has ruled Germany since March has emerged bruised but intact – for the time being – from two weeks of turmoil over the issue of immigration.

— chris cottrell, The Christian Science Monitor, "Immigration deal saves German government, points to European future," 9 July 2018
Investigators discovered the girl had bruising on her abdomen, chest, face and head, and her body temperature at the time of death was only 79 degrees.

— holly v. hays, Indianapolis Star, "Indianapolis mother sentenced in infant daughter's 2013 death," 20 June 2018
Our best sales agents are ambitious and competitive and Alex has bruised a couple of the other sales professionals' egos.

— Anchorage Daily News, "One of my best employees was caught watching porn at work. Do I have to fire him?," 4 June 2018
Police noted her injuries: Visible bruising on her arms, legs, and to her left eye socket.

— ruth brown, idahostatesman, "In 2014, she hid from her boyfriend in an Idaho hotel. This week, he shot her to death," 1 June 2018
The Lords have already defeated the government on 14 previous amendments and the opposition Labour Party foresees another bruising on this one.

— alex morales, Bloomberg.com, "U.K. Lords Seek to Defeat May One Last Time on Key Brexit Bill," 16 May 2018
An Alexandria police report obtained Tuesday also shows a different daughter told authorities in 2008 one of her mothers bruised her with a belt.

— samantha ketterer, Houston Chronicle, "Stepfather of kids killed with adopted family questions state agency's actions," 16 Apr. 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of bruise

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

bruise

noun

Definition of bruise

1 a : 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

See bruise defined for English-language learners

Examples of bruise in a Sentence

He had a bad bruise on his leg after he fell.
a bruise on an apple

Recent Examples of bruise from the Web

Court documents detail the women’s bruises, bleeding, swelling, scrapes and scars.

— Washington Post, "Family sees justice in teen’s death more a decade later," 11 July 2018
The investigation revealed Garrett hit, kicked and threw items at the woman, leaving her with bruises, scratches and marks, Booth said.

— raisa habersham, ajc, "Sheriff: Man planned to burn home with woman, 2 children inside," 11 July 2018
Rodriguez suffered broken ribs and a broken cheekbone, and has bruises all over his body, reported KNBC.

— don sweeney, sacbee, "‘Go back to your own country.’ 92-year-old man beaten with a brick, L.A. cops say," 8 July 2018
The prosecution motion describes the wounds stretching from head to toe as bruises, abrasions, red dots, scabs, cuts and a traumatic brain injury.

— garrett therolf, latimes.com, "Anthony Avalos was extensively tortured over days before dying, prosecutors allege," 4 July 2018
The officer was treated for minor bumps and bruises, and the driver of the other car was not injured.

— samantha ketterer, Houston Chronicle, "Officer receives minor injuries in crash in Chinatown area," 15 June 2018
In a purplish shade of bruise, with smirks and implications, taunts and sucker punches.

— brian gresko, Longreads, "Wrestling With My Father," 12 June 2018
Holly sustained broken wrists, a broken leg, cuts and bruises, and Hilary wound up undergoing close to nine hours of emergency surgery.

— chuck dauphin, Billboard, "Hilary Williams Talks Surviving a Near-Fatal Crash & Delivering Her Debut 'My Lucky Scars'," 25 May 2018
The children suffered from puncture wounds, bruises, burns, and injuries consistent with being shot with a pellet gun.

— sydney scott, Essence.com, "The Quick Read: Gabrielle Union Once Brought Tuna Casserole To An Exclusive Party At Prince's House," 15 May 2018

Origin and Etymology of bruise

noun derivative of ¹bruise

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1533

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

bruise Synonyms

Synonyms

contusion;

black eye, hickey;

discoloration;

BRUISE Defined for English Language Learners

bruise

verb

Definition of bruise for English Language Learners

: to cause a bruise on (part of a person's body, a piece of fruit, etc.)
: to get a bruise
: to hurt (someone's confidence, feelings, etc.) through speech or actions

bruise

noun

Definition of bruise for English Language Learners

: a dark and painful area on your skin that is caused by an injury
: a dark area on a plant or piece of fruit that has been damaged

BRUISE Defined for Kids

bruise

verb \ ˈbrüz \

Definition of bruise for Students

bruised; bruising

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

bruise

noun

Definition of bruise for Students

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

Medical Dictionary

bruise

verb \ ˈbrüz \

medical Definition of bruise

bruised; bruising

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

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