bloody 1 of 2

Definition of bloodynext

bloody

2 of 2

verb

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
If the diarrhea gets bloody or lasts more than two days, see a doctor. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026 Healthy persons who are infected often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 5 May 2026
Verb
Fists flew on the 50-yard line as tempers heated up during the traditional post-game handshake, with some athletes exiting the field bloodied and bruised. Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026 He was bloodied in the first half, literally giving blood and sweat to complete the goal. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bloody
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bloody
Adjective
  • The lobby’s elevator doors opened and a woman with a giant white saucer on her head and a matching floor-length coat, embellished with red splotches that evoked stab wounds, slowly exited.
    Jane Bua, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
  • Our former swing state now has become a red state through and through thanks largely to the new congressional districts which are stretched to inane proportions.
    Ann Marie Luft, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2026
Adjective
  • The franchise originally began with the 1974 horror classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, created by Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel and starring Gunnar Hansen as the murderous Leatherface.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 2 May 2026
  • His main antagonist is Jimmy (Harry Goodwins), a white supremacist who is the sheriff’s son and the leader of the murderous gang.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • While satellite launches mostly produce black carbon, which has a potential to warm the upper atmosphere, satellite re-entries generate aluminum oxides, which can damage the ozone layer.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 18 May 2026
  • Fallen debris also caused a house in the village of Subbotino to catch fire, while four people were injured when drones damaged several residential blocks in the western town of Istra, TASS reported.
    Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
Adjective
  • Saturn will appear as a bright star-like object to the moon's lower right, while the reddish glow of Mars shines lower still to the left of the pair.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 12 May 2026
  • Flanked by sun-scarred, reddish rocks that look lifted from Arizona, Cars Land is a marvel of a theme park land, with its backdrop mountain range ever so slightly nodding to the fins of classic Cadillacs from 1957 to 1962.
    Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • The grand occasion was almost marred by an accident, the Tribune reported.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
  • Though that 2017 championship is marred by one of the most egregious cheating scandals in baseball history.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Adjective
  • The sequel ramps things up with an $80 million price tag and even more gory fight scenes.
    Jordan Moreau, Variety, 8 May 2026
  • The jury saw photos and video of the scene, including one gory top-down photo.
    John Annese, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The creature-feature horror film plunges into the jungles of the Dominican Republic, where a group of road workers battling brutal conditions encounter the Ciguapa — a terrifying figure from local folklore with backward feet and the power to possess men through her gaze.
    Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 15 May 2026
  • Anyone familiar with the show knows what comes next probably won't be pretty, but even diehard fans will be shocked by how brutal Scattered Hopes can be.
    Ian Stokes, Space.com, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • The impact ignited an engine fire, injuring a dozen passengers.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
  • Even if Calafiori was not injured, Mosquera’s introduction and Rice’s return to midfield were necessary to start the second half.
    Art de Roché, New York Times, 13 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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