bloody 1 of 2

adjective

ˈblə-dē How to pronounce bloody (audio)
Definition of bloodynext
1
as in red
smeared or stained with blood after the fight, her shirt was all bloody

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in murderous
eager for or marked by the shedding of blood, extreme violence, or killing a bloody battle a bloody movie that is unsuitable for children

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bloody

2 of 2

verb

as in to damage
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of the politician's reputation was permanently bloodied by the rumors of corruption

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective bloody contrast with its synonyms?

The words gory and sanguinary are common synonyms of bloody. While all three words mean "affected by or involving the shedding of blood," bloody is applied especially to things that are actually covered with blood or are made up of blood.

bloody hands

Where would gory be a reasonable alternative to bloody?

In some situations, the words gory and bloody are roughly equivalent. However, gory suggests a profusion of blood and slaughter.

exceptionally gory, even for a horror movie

When could sanguinary be used to replace bloody?

The meanings of sanguinary and bloody largely overlap; however, sanguinary applies especially to something attended by, or someone inclined to, bloodshed.

the Civil War was America's most sanguinary conflict

Example Sentences

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 bloody
Adjective
Carrington clotheslined Cunningham, leaving her with a bloody mouth. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026 The stream of the bloody incident was reportedly live for 30 minutes. — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
Supporters — many of them wearing Colombia’s yellow and red colors — rushed the gates at the home stadium of the NFL's Miami Dolphins, leaving fans terrified and bloodied as security struggled to contain the rush. — ABC News, 26 June 2026 Jones found success using a left hook to the body followed by a straight right hand down the middle that bloodied Gualtieri’s nose. — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 23 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for bloody
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bloody
  1. red
  2. murderous
  3. damage
  4. reddish
  5. brutal
  6. mar
  7. gory
  8. savage
Adjective
  • The population of Quincy, a red dot in deep blue Washington, has grown as agriculture and food processing expanded.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Choose from bright red, turquoise, and purple to style with neutrals and animal prints alike.
    — Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of red
Adjective
  • As the plot narrows into a search for a Manhunter, a murderous species whose vaunted ability to blend in is somewhat muted by every other alien having the same ability, each Lantern gets assigned a love interest.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The story expansion, entitled Echoes of Sekigahara, has murderous protagonist Atsu time-traveling between catalyst memories and mysterious geography in the current day.
    — Mitch Wallace, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of murderous
Verb
  • Hundreds of buildings — hotels, apartment blocks, mixed-use structures — collapsed or were damaged beyond repair.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • If Chinese inventories become one of the last lines of defense against damaging global price spikes, Beijing may come to occupy a comparable position.
    — Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of damage
Adjective
  • The bedroom is on floor one, the first door on the right (that door, by the way, has three peepholes carved seemingly at random), and is bedecked in reddish wood.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
  • There are now more than 140 tree species commercialized as rosewoods, all with lustrous, dense and typically reddish wood.
    — Chenier Carpio Opua, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of reddish
Adjective
  • What follows is a brutal fight for survival against aggressive, hungry, and carnivorous dinosaurs who quickly turn the community's previously idyllic streets into their own personal feeding ground.
    — Megan McCluskey, Time, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The company's earnings should also benefit from a better freight cycle, which has shown signs of improvement after a brutal multiyear recession that began in 2022.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of brutal
Verb
  • Just a week after heat and severe storms marred July Fourth celebrations, a heat dome trapped more of the country under relentless warmth and humidity.
    — Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Following a 2024 general election marred by allegations of widespread vote-rigging, the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has struggled to build momentum.
    — Hasan Ali, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of mar
Adjective
  • Both stupefyingly gory and rambunctiously funny, Verhoeven’s film plays as a calling card for his singular career.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The music video — which includes a graphic content warning at the start — features symbolic and gory imagery of societal expectations and fame.
    — Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of gory
Adjective
  • The savage battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa had already demonstrated the ferocity with which Japanese forces would defend their homeland.
    — James M. Scott, Time, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The lifestyle mogul made a savage comment about Meghan Markle in a cover story for PEOPLE on Wednesday, calling out her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of savage

Browse Nearby Words

bloodthirsty
bloody
bloodying
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bloody.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bloody. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bloody

Nglish: Translation of bloody for Spanish Speakers

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