as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
a hockey team known for its blood-and-guts play
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of blood-and-guts
Dawn of the Dead's flood of blood-and-guts is among the most memorable in film history, if only for the unnaturally vivid shades of red.
—
Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
Still, these sections lack the blood-and-guts tension of her interactions with her mother.
—Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
That realization elevates the film’s campy blood-and-guts from gore to gut-punch.
—Gráinne O'Hara Belluomo, WWD, 1 Dec. 2024
The striking contrast with everything heard earlier — not just the music but the blood-and-guts oratory — was bewildering, and in the midst of the temporary bewilderment, Melania emerged in her trim, bright-red skirt suit.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 19 July 2024
Her sharp depictions of blood-and-guts nursing brimmed with acerbic opinions on topics ranging from the unpopularity of the British consul in Volos to inaccurate reporting by journalists who lacked Greek language skills.
—Richard Byrne, The New Republic, 25 Aug. 2023
The search produced Jeff Banister, straight out of central casting, talking with Texas grit and offering up blood-and-guts analogies.
—Evan Grant, Dallas News, 23 Mar. 2023
Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
Still, these sections lack the blood-and-guts tension of her interactions with her mother.
—Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
That realization elevates the film’s campy blood-and-guts from gore to gut-punch.
—Gráinne O'Hara Belluomo, WWD, 1 Dec. 2024
The striking contrast with everything heard earlier — not just the music but the blood-and-guts oratory — was bewildering, and in the midst of the temporary bewilderment, Melania emerged in her trim, bright-red skirt suit.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 19 July 2024
Her sharp depictions of blood-and-guts nursing brimmed with acerbic opinions on topics ranging from the unpopularity of the British consul in Volos to inaccurate reporting by journalists who lacked Greek language skills.
—Richard Byrne, The New Republic, 25 Aug. 2023
The search produced Jeff Banister, straight out of central casting, talking with Texas grit and offering up blood-and-guts analogies.
—Evan Grant, Dallas News, 23 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blood-and-guts
Adjective
-
Lastly, some members of the mainstream media’s reports on the violent anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis have been draped in gross mischaracterizations and gaping omissions.—
Michael Zais,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The president’s recent announcement of progress has been somewhat overshadowed by violent crimes making headlines daily.—
Alexandra Mendoza,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This time, the soloist was the stellar emerging pianist Yunchan Lim, who keeps to himself, either lost in dreamy reverie or, like a jumpy teenager, in ferocious attack mode.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Fullerton's ferocious winds toppled trees onto homes, cars and trucks, jolting neighbors awake early Wednesday morning.—
Michele Gile,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Some of the fiercest storms in the South were reported near Lake Charles, Louisiana, where high winds from a thunderstorm overturned a horse trailer and a Mardi Gras float, damaged an airport jet bridge and flung the metal awning from a house into power lines.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Feb. 2026
-
There’s Manny, Zitzs and EZ, who has a way with the girls; Izzy, an abused boy who hides his family’s secrets, and Gloria, as good at sports as the boys and so fierce nobody teases her little sister about her stutter.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Right next to that is a showcase for Rubin’s frenetic playing in the form of a furious pattern over slashing guitars.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Two other high-ranking music executives from outside the company, who also spoke to The Times on condition of anonymity to maintain relationships there, said talent and agents at Wasserman Music are furious, and planning exits if Wasserman stays much longer.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The faces of those women represented an unbroken chain of those who survived turbulent histories before me.—
Lara N. Dotson-Renta,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
This is something that is common around young stars that have turbulent and violent environments, but is uncommon for stars as old as ASASSN-24fw, estimated to be around 1 billion years old.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The news broke the hearts of the rabid fans eager to see a more brutalist Michelangelo on a vengeance mission on the big screen.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Feb. 2026
-
In its place, frustration has grown within a rabid fan base that was hoping the front office would find a way to add Giannis Antetokounmpo or another big star to help fill the large void that Butler’s injury created.—
Nick Friedell,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blood-and-guts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blood-and-guts. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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