bruise

1 of 2

noun

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

bruise

2 of 2

verb

bruised; bruising

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
4
a
: 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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In 2011, schoolteacher Ellen Greenberg was found dead on the kitchen floor of her Philadelphia apartment with some 20 knife wounds and numerous bruises. Brandon Griggs, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025 With just a few bruises, the buck was sent to the Bald Mountain Recreation Area by the Oakland County Animal Control and then successfully freed. Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
Not only does this help the mushrooms continue to sprinkle their spores along the forest floor, aiding the development of new mycelial networks, but this also avoids bruising and allows the delicate fungi to breathe, keeping them fresh and firm on the journey home. Callie Sumlin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 Oct. 2025 Officials on the scene noted that the four-point buck appeared to have been bruised but sustained no major injuries from the event. Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bruise

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

Noun

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4b

Time Traveler
The first known use of bruise was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bruise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bruise. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

bruise

1 of 2 verb
bruised; bruising
1
a
: to cause a bruise on
b
: to become bruised
2
: to crush (as leaves or berries) by pounding
3
: to hurt the feelings of

bruise

2 of 2 noun
1
: an injury (as from a blow) in which the skin is not broken but is discolored from the breaking of small blood vessels that lie underneath the skin : contusion
2
: an injury to a plant or fruit that resembles a bruise

Medical Definition

bruise

1 of 2 verb
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

2 of 2 noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on bruise

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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