BLOODY Synonyms: 195 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

bloody 1 of 2

adjective

ˈblə-dē

Definition of bloody

as in red

smeared or stained with blood after the fight, her shirt was all bloody

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

At this point, the movie veers off the rails a bit, culminating in a very bloody conclusion. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 Only time will tell how spectacular and bloody Eddie’s rise and eventual demise will be. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026

Verb

In the TikTok livestream, which has since been taken down, Hilton appears to be bloodied and in a distressed mental state. — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026 After the game, Tillman showed up at the press area without shoes on, his sock bloodied where a defender’s cleat had pierced his boot. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bloody

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bloody

Adjective

As Florian Wirtz was substituted during Liverpool’s 2-2 opening day draw at Newcastle United, the German midfielder sat on the bench, retrieved a bottle of dark red liquid, and began to drink.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
The main colors here are black and white, with flashes of red and blue.

— Hilton Als, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of red

Adjective

If only his dour and prickly assistant Patricia (Kate O’Flynn) would stop mentioning her encounter with the murderous Boogeyman.

— Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Simon’s Slaughterhouse — Step inside a meat processing plant that has been taken over by Simon the Butcher and his murderous crew.

— Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of murderous

Verb

Extensive lines backed up at Kauai's primary airport as people tried to leave the island; state officials said the airport was operating on a lone backup generator because a second generator was damaged by the storm.

— GENE JOHNSON, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
The precise composition of ancient Egyptian paints, binders, adhesives, and similar materials used to make artifacts is largely unknown, in part because a full analysis would require taking samples that would damage those valuable artifacts.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of damage

Adjective

The production of only eumelanin decreases in hot, dry regions, resulting in reddish body coloration, whereas the production of both types of melanin is reduced in very cold regions, resulting in pale body coloration.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
Crawford, a longtime supporter of Ukraine and a devotee of the American pit bull terrier, came forward and handed a reddish-yellow puppy to Zelensky.

— Laurie Kellman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of reddish

Adjective

When everything changed, as the dust literally settled on the most brutal terror attack on United States soil, the prevailing impulse among NFL owners was to play the games.

— Michael Silver, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
The cuts and the freezing of public funding for the film industry have been brutal for Argentine cinema.

— Roberto Prieto, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of brutal

Verb

The tenures of the two subsequent chief baseball executives, Billy Eppler and Minasian, were marred by Moreno’s intrusions, sources said.

— Andy McCullough, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Amnesty International had called on the Court of Cassation to overturn the convictions, describing the case as politically motivated and saying the trial was marred by due process and other violations.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of mar

Adjective

Given the grimy, gory nature of writer-director Paul Greengrass’ historical film, Garfield had to rely on his go-to ways to unwind.

— Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
The problem is that the action becomes so relentless, so explicitly gory, that a bad aftertaste sets in.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of gory

Adjective

Bryan Singer’s ingenious thriller is both a graceful callback to ’50s potboilers and a savage modernization of them.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
Cole, who has to maneuver his way around 20 savage crew members, each of whom will need to be killed, doesn’t waste a homicidal movement.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of savage

Cite this Entry

Style

“Bloody.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bloody. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of bloody

adjective

verb

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Synonyms of bloody

adjective

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to bloody

9 Words from P.G. Wodehouse

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

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