bloodless

adjective

blood·​less ˈbləd-ləs 

1

: deficient in or free from blood

2

: not accompanied by loss or shedding of blood

a bloodless victory

3

: lacking in spirit or vitality

4

: lacking in human feeling

bloodless statistics

bloodlessly adverb

bloodlessness noun

Examples of bloodless in a Sentence

They took control of the government in a bloodless coup.

Her speeches are dull and bloodless.

a bunch of bloodless numbers and statistics

His face was bloodless with fear.

Recent Examples on the Web

In recent years, these Chinese middlemen have essentially become the go-to bankers for the biggest players in the US drug trade, authorities have said, wresting control from Latin American interests in what has amounted to a bloodless coup. —Rob Kuznia, CNN Money, 18 Nov. 2025

Perhaps the reason that the Revolution is so drenched in mythology and bloodless gallantness is that there are no photographs. —Daniel D'addario, Variety, 14 Nov. 2025

America’s dependence on overwhelming force would form the assumption that, as in Cuba, war should be quick and relatively bloodless. —Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025

Instead, early actors and prop makers probably just pantomimed bloodless violence, at most using bright red cloth to signify gore. —Mark Hay, Popular Science, 9 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bloodless

adjective

blood·​less ˈbləd-ləs 

1

: having less blood than normal

2

: done without bloodshed

a bloodless revolution

3

: lacking in spirit or feeling

bloodlessly adverb

bloodlessness noun

Medical Definition

bloodless

adjective

blood·​less ˈbləd-ləs 

: free from or lacking blood

a bloodless surgical field

bloodlessly adverb