bruises 1 of 2

Definition of bruisesnext
plural of bruise
1
as in scratches
a bodily injury in which small blood vessels are broken but the overlying skin is not she got quite a big bruise from walking into the corner of the table

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in scrapes
an area of skin roughened or worn away by harsh rubbing against another surface bruises caused by ill-fitting hiking boots

Synonyms & Similar Words

bruises

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bruise

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 bruises
Noun
The struggle left several agents with bite wounds, scrapes and bruises that required medical treatment. Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 4 Feb. 2026 With further usage, there’s a high likelihood of other injuries, such as bone bruises or meniscus tears. Devon Henderson, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026 Fortunately, the children have a lot of bruises, scrapes and cuts, all stuff that is easily managed. Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026 The photos show cuts and bruises on his face as well as bandages on his hands. David Matthews, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026 The child suffered scrapes and bruises and was expected to make a full recovery, said Kristy Wells, a spokesperson for Fullerton police. Ryanne Mena, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026 The photos show cuts and bruises on his face as well as bandages on his hands. David Matthews, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026 Needless to say, James and Jonny get into it as well, engaging in a knock-down, drag -out fight that results not only in numerous bruises and contusions but also a heartfelt emotional epiphany. Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026 Bone bruises and muscle strains have threatened to derail the Nuggets’ trajectory after a promising start. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bruises
Noun
  • Chemical irritants affect the eyes, skin and lungs first, causing scratches to the surface of the eye, painful skin reactions, breathing difficulties and acute psychological distress.
    Michele Heisler, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Forwards Pavol Regenda, Jeff Skinner, and defenseman Sam Dickinson will be the healthy scratches.
    Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Fortunately, the children have a lot of bruises, scrapes and cuts, all stuff that is easily managed.
    Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
  • The modular roof bars rotate 90 degrees to become proper crossbars when needed, while the alloy wheels are subtly recessed to sit within the line of the tyre, helping avoid scrapes from inevitable encounters with kerbs or rocks.
    Fergus Scholes, TheWeek, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • What once killed campaigns now barely wounds them.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Even with all of them in place, Shirley misses the masked attacker sneaking his way up to the apartment door, and Lamb’s attempt to blind him with bleach creates a chaotic struggle that wounds the assailant without containing him.
    Scott Tobias, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Needless to say, James and Jonny get into it as well, engaging in a knock-down, drag -out fight that results not only in numerous bruises and contusions but also a heartfelt emotional epiphany.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Naroditsky also had clusters of contusions on both thighs that were in various stages of healing, according to the report.
    Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The medical examiner’s report stated that Lunas Campos had scattered superficial abrasions on his body, hemorrhage in muscles and connective tissues on the neck, and signs of smaller hemorrhaging on the eyelids and skin of the neck.
    Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026
  • The autopsy report by the El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office found Lunas Campos' body showed signs of a struggle, including abrasions on his chest and knees.
    CBS News, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The front lid appears to be barely hanging on by a thread, with cuts and gashes throughout.
    Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Heupel spreads out his receivers in an attempt to spread out the defense, then gashes them with the run.
    Seth Emerson, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Sharp’s statement indicates that base pay will increase 5% across the board in the contract’s first year, with 4% bumps for each of the agreement’s final three years.
    Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Who benefits most will depend on individual circumstances, but the biggest bumps are expected among middle-income households, families with children, workers with overtime or tip income, and some older taxpayers.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Orchestrated by a central process orchestration layer such as zenon, this approach accelerates scale-up from lab to full production, slashes changeover time, reduces waste, and breaks vendor lock‑in while protecting existing assets and enabling continuous improvement.
    CBS News, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
  • The system slashes both capital expenditure and long-term maintenance costs.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bruises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bruises. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.

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