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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Recent Examples of blood-and-guts
Though Hunt Wynorski’s (Nick Zano) actual death happens off-screen, his pained panic at being trapped underwater by the suction pull of a public pool’s drain is an agonizing sequence, culminating in the gnarly visual of a blood-and-guts fountain.
—
Gayle Sequeira, Vulture, 16 May 2025
This is a blood-and-guts medical-show model, in which everything teeters on the brink of catastrophe at all times and the doctors are adrenaline junkies approximately one shift away from a complete mental breakdown.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 3 Apr. 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
Despite his reputation as a blood-and-guts brawler, Moxley is an underappreciated mat technician.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023
At another point in the trailer, Renfield and Awkwafina, who plays a traffic cop, set about to take on Dracula in a blood-and-guts confrontation.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2023
Gayle Sequeira, Vulture, 16 May 2025
This is a blood-and-guts medical-show model, in which everything teeters on the brink of catastrophe at all times and the doctors are adrenaline junkies approximately one shift away from a complete mental breakdown.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 3 Apr. 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
Despite his reputation as a blood-and-guts brawler, Moxley is an underappreciated mat technician.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023
At another point in the trailer, Renfield and Awkwafina, who plays a traffic cop, set about to take on Dracula in a blood-and-guts confrontation.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blood-and-guts
Adjective
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Dressed in a Versace shirt and gleaming gold chain, Shakur was still out on bond, still basking in the glow of stardom, brushing off a violent altercation with a Crip gang member inside a Sin City casino that had transpired just hours earlier after a Mike Tyson boxing match.—
Danielle Bacher,
People.com,
1 July 2025
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On June 25, Monroe officers used a drone to track down a violent offender who had fled into a wooded area, police said.—
Maia Nehme,
Charlotte Observer,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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The Manchester City striker is one of the global game’s most ferocious and intelligent goalscorers.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
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Now, she’s added another competitive event to her list of favorites: F1, or Formula 1, largely considered the world's most ferocious and high-tech form of auto racing.—
Marco della Cava,
USA Today,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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The Supreme Court cases that set off the fiercest conflicts among the justices aren’t always the hot-button ones.—
Dan McLaughlin,
National Review,
25 June 2025
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Roca—with his pants torn and blood showing through—returns to fight and ultimately brings the bull down with one fierce thrust, leaving the sword in its back.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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Even Zelensky – who has had a turbulent relationship with Trump – came away with wins.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
25 June 2025
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Reina, Fil-Am team center back, brings us on this turbulent journey, culminating in an intimate trip to her grandmother’s hometown in the Philippines.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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River had Gonzalo Montiel sent off at the death for a second yellow card as the match ended with Inter players running off the pitch showered by items from the stands and followed by a furious Marcos Acuna until he was restrained by team-mates.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
25 June 2025
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Employees, terrified and furious, call out to the agents.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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Harrington had words with an NBC Analyst, prompting rabid reactions online.—
Kendall Capps,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 June 2025
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The pair bond over the course of the movie, but Old Yeller is ultimately bitten by a rabid wolf defending Travis, Washburn’s Lisbeth and his mother (Dorothy McGuire).—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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Ransom Canyon star Josh Duhamel didn’t have a rough time getting to know the set of his new film Off the Grid because the actor lives off the grid in real-life.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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Avoid scrubbing the microwave’s interior with rough materials like steel wool or abrasive sponges.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blood-and-guts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blood-and-guts. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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