Synonyms of bloody

bloody 1 of 2

adjective

ˈblə-dē 

1

as in red

smeared or stained with blood

after the fight, her shirt was all bloody

Synonyms & Similar Words

• red
• reddish
• gory
• bloodstained
• crimson
• ruby
• carmine
• sanguinary
• sanguineous
• bloodred
• incarnadine
• sanguine

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

• murderous
• murdering
• brutal
• savage
• violent
• vicious
• ferocious
• sanguinary
• fierce
• bloodthirsty
• homicidal
• contentious
• cruel
• sanguine
• ruthless
• sanguineous
• bloody-minded
• barbaric
• aggressive
• hostile
• merciless
• sadistic
• barbarous
• hateful
• heartless
• inhumane
• antagonistic
• gory
• bloodstained
• belligerent
• gladiatorial
• pitiless
• combative
• bellicose
• grim
• malicious
• pugnacious
• truculent
• quarrelsome
• discordant
• malignant
• scrappy
• assertive
• spiteful
• wanton
• nasty
• malevolent
• cold-blooded
• fell
• malign
• mean
• despiteful

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peaceful
• peaceable
• conciliatory
• pacific
• kind
• sympathetic
• propitiatory
• benign
• warm
• disarming
• humane
• compassionate
• unaggressive
• dovish
• placatory
• unassertive
• placative
• benignant
• appeasing
• merciful
• tender
• mollifying
• lenient
• gentle
• kindhearted
• pacifying
• placating
• tenderhearted
• peacemaking
• amiable
• benevolent
• warmhearted
• clement
• kindly
• amicable
• good-hearted
• affable
• submissive
• yielding
• surrendering

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

• damage
• mar
• injure
• hurt
• cripple
• compromise
• spoil
• break
• weaken
• harm
• impair
• cross (up)
• disfigure
• flaw
• erode
• destroy
• ruin
• blemish
• wound
• crab
• deface
• undermine
• vitiate
• deteriorate
• shatter
• endamage
• wreck
• wash out
• wear (away)
• batter
• torture
• smash
• scour
• desolate
• blight
• tarnish
• lame
• botch
• demolish
• enervate
• queer
• dent
• enfeeble
• torment
• tear down
• waste
• ding
• gum (up)
• wipe out
• mutilate
• crush
• lacerate
• devastate
• scourge
• total
• maim
• mangle
• dint
• disable
• annihilate
• decimate
• clobber
• hamstring
• bash
• pulverize
• dash
• raze
• bang up
• do in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• patch
• repair
• reconstruct
• fix
• rebuild
• help
• mend
• revamp
• cure
• remedy
• heal
• renovate
• rectify
• rehabilitate
• perfect
• doctor
• better
• revise
• recondition
• improve
• edit
• remodel
• enhance
• refine
• ameliorate
• enrich
• meliorate

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

Recent Examples of bloody

Adjective

On this day, an oyster shooter ($10) allowed for a bracing sampling of the house bloody mary (Pow! —Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 June 2026

The prosecution presented dozens of photos that were taken by Palmer, along with bloody children's clothing and bedding that were found in a trash can at the home. —Ashley Paul, CBS News, 4 June 2026

Verb

The play was widely denounced after Greig bloodied a defenseless Walker with an uppercut to the face while Walker was held in a headlock by another Senators player. —James Mirtle, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026

In six weeks, Iran was bloodied and battered into submission. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026