BAD BLOOD Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

bad blood

noun

Definition of bad blood

as in hostility

a deep-seated ill will there's been bad blood between the two families for years

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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.

Recent Examples of bad blood Some of that stems from the political relations between the two nations off the pitch, but much bad blood has also been developed by a string of controversial matches on it. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 15 July 2026 Despite the lineup change, Ferrer said there was no bad blood. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026 Her involvement in the legal battle is rumored to have sparked bad blood between the two women. — Michael Nied, InStyle, 4 July 2026 There’s no bad blood, though, with both offering nothing but good words to say about each other and wishing each other luck moving forward. — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bad blood

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bad blood

Noun

Those moves come amid higher oil prices, with Brent crude futures hovering around $99 a barrel Tuesday amid escalating hostilities in the Middle East.

— Sarah Min,Hugh Leask, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026
Goldman's base case Goldman's forecast is based on an increase in hostilities in the Middle East.

— Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of hostility

Noun

Living a dozen miles from their closest neighbor (who has a grudge with Lester), even further from the closest town (a downtrodden shell of its former self), and further still from any sort of hope — or temptation.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
Whether or not West has been holding a grudge against Sean all these years, his fans certainly were.

— Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of grudge

Noun

The defense kept prodding James to tell more about the Compton gang war, the hatred between both sides, what really happened on that night in Las Vegas.

— Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
His hatred of the Islamic State group appears genuine, and American cooperation with Damascus against the terrorist network will benefit the Syrians who suffered most under its rule.

— Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of hatred

Noun

Instead, that generation’s gesture seems to be stymied or to miss its target and end in bitterness—which is precisely what gives these artists’ work at its best a poignancy on the other side of its aggression and humor.

— Barry Schwabsky, ARTnews.com, 8 Sep. 2026
This copper beauty serves up bold floral and citrus aromas, plus the signature IPA bitterness.

— Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of bitterness

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bad

bad blood

baddie

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“Bad blood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bad%20blood. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of bad blood

noun

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