bruise

verb \ ˈbrüz \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 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

But as the bruising aftermath made clear, the divide, for the moment at least, cannot be bridged by clever diplomacy and cordial talking points.

— New York Times, "Trump’s Blasts Upend G-7, Alienating Oldest Allies," 9 June 2018
Both men were standing at the end of a bruising third round.

— carl prine, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Marine boxer bludgeons his way to Best Boxer title in London bouts," 28 May 2018
Washington was the more physical team in evening the series with a bruising 3-0 victory in Game 6.

— fred goodall, chicagotribune.com, "Alex Ovechkin and Braden Holtby shine in Game 7 to help Capitals beat Lightning 4-0," 23 May 2018
They were treated at the zoo for bruising but were not taken to the hospital.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Workers hurt as 800-pound animal busts out of enclosure in Rhode Island zoo," 15 May 2018
The ghost of primaries past haunted the event A big question going into the event: Would all three Republicans who competed in Indiana’s bruising Senate primary race attend the rally in a show of unity?

— maureen groppe, Indianapolis Star, "8 takeaways from Trump's speech at Elkhart rally," 11 May 2018
West Orange senior Elijah Jackson, a bruising football fullback/tight end and basketball power forward for the Warriors, is a favorite in the boys 4A shot put after unleashing a career-best 53-footer last week.

— buddy collings, OrlandoSentinel.com, "UNF signees Timothy Doyle, Austin Thompson pumped for state track and field," 4 May 2018
On their bruising second album, Sunwatchers II (Trouble in Mind), New York instrumental quartet Sunwatchers further refine their flinty collision of scorching free jazz and numbing proto-punk.

— peter margasak, Chicago Reader, "Sunwatchers fuse proto-punk and free jazz, while Olden Yolk craft sophisticated, harmony-laden pop," 27 Apr. 2018
Giroux’s comments will elicit howls from some of the same throats that produced the bruising boos that Giroux says make the players play tight.

— marcus hayes, Philly.com, "Claude Giroux admits booing Philly fans hurt Flyers in NHL playoffs | Marcus Hayes," 25 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

The boy was also found with bruises on his body in other incidents.

— Fox News, "'Monster' mother sentenced to 35 years in prison for beating son to death on 4th birthday," 7 June 2018
Privacy - Terms Police said the couple showed up at the hospital with the child on May 19 and the baby was admitted with multiple bruises on his body and general irritability.

— charles rabin, miamiherald, "Dad's explanation for breaking baby's legs: I was trying to relieve him of gas," 7 June 2018
The girl described another incident last December when Joseph Gorham allegedly beat her with a plastic tube from their vacuum cleaner, leaving her with bruises on her forehead, cheeks, hands, arms, legs and rear.

— kaitlyn schwers, kansascity, "Missouri couple accused of tormenting 8-year-old face 52 counts of abuse, neglect," 31 May 2018
According to an arrest affidavit, one parent said her son came home with bruises on his face and neck.

— michelle ewing, ajc, "Special education teacher accused of dragging, choking, punching students," 21 May 2018
Some of the president’s longest-serving aides have left with bruises.

— BostonGlobe.com, "For many, a ride on the Trump train ends in derailment," 27 Apr. 2018
The injured woman, activist Wanda Cleveland, was released from a hospital early Sunday morning with bruises to her arm and the back of her head, according to the Sacramento Bee.

— alene tchekmedyian, latimes.com, "Sheriff says deputy probably didn't realize he'd struck protester at Stephon Clark rally," 3 Apr. 2018
While Doherty gets the usual bumps and bruises and black-and-blue marks of someone working with his hands, his foot injury didn’t come at a job site.

— robert weisman, BostonGlobe.com, "Non-profit aims to get girls in the game," 28 May 2018
Eventually, Ordaz ended up punching the deputy constable, who was briefly treated for bruises and cuts on his face, Herman said.

— keri blakinger, Houston Chronicle, "Houston man accused of punching deputy constable in bar brawl," 27 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