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
Newlywed wife Jesni Fiji, knocked out from the tragic crash and reportedly surviving with no broken bones and just cuts and bruises, awoke Saturday morning in shock and horror over what surrounded her, including her new husband Dave Fiji's body, the groom's father told Atlanta News First (ANF). Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026 The truck owner grabbed onto the passenger’s side door to try and stop the theft, but was dragged at least a half-block before falling off and suffering numerous cuts and bruises. Harry Harris, Mercury News, 1 June 2026 Avoid any with bruises, soft spots or cracks. Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 1 June 2026 The driver died at the scene, and an ambulance service transported the remainder of the passengers to the hospital to treat several broken fingers, concussions, bruises, abrasions and a broken femur, per PSN Zrt. Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026 Several police officers and security personnel also sustained cuts and bruises during the incidents. Sofia Baltodano, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026 Students were left with bruises, scrapes or other injuries in nearly a quarter of the 450 cases reviewed by reporters. Clare Amari, New York Times, 27 May 2026 Fjord is a squirmy drama in which Stan and Renate Reinsve play a married couple who move with their five children from Romania to Norway to be closer to Reinsve’s mother, only to draw the interest of child protective services when a teacher at school spots bruises on one of the kids. Rachel Handler, Vulture, 26 May 2026 Fiebig’s favorite part of being a goalie might be the bruises. Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bruises
Noun
  • Luckily, because of ceramic’s resistance to scratches, keeping your timepiece bright and polished is easier than doing the same for your teeth.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
  • Make Furniture Feet Protectors Avoiding floor scratches from your furniture is easy with old sponges.
    Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • Harrison Ford As most pop culture enthusiasts know, Harrison Ford is best known for playing an expert pilot in the Star Wars franchise, with his character Han Solo navigating the Millennium Falcon through a number of scrapes.
    Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 30 May 2026
  • Students were left with bruises, scrapes or other injuries in nearly a quarter of the 450 cases reviewed by reporters.
    Clare Amari, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Verb
  • Chops, gouges, wounds it like the shadow grooves on the sidewalks—the sun is setting earlier.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Imperfect fleshly reality occupies the stage, the region where bones crack and wounds suppurate, schlumpy humans fall for each other, and jealousy roams murderously free.
    Justin Davidson, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • For contusions, wear your shin guards.
    Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 22 May 2026
  • Lee was charged with murder after the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office concluded homicidal violence could not be ruled out in Bravo’s death, with autopsy findings showing multiple abrasions and contusions and MDMA in her system.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 19 May 2026
Noun
  • The driver died at the scene, and an ambulance service transported the remainder of the passengers to the hospital to treat several broken fingers, concussions, bruises, abrasions and a broken femur, per PSN Zrt.
    Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026
  • In addition to a gunshot wound, the autopsy showed Cariif had blunt force trauma to his jaw and abrasions on his hands consistent with a fist fight.
    Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • The front lid appears to be barely hanging on by a thread, with cuts and gashes throughout.
    Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 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
  • Vegas had some bumps getting through Utah and Anaheim, then had no trouble with the banged-up and battered Avalanche.
    Stephen Whyno, Twin Cities, 31 May 2026
  • The Flames endured some early season bumps but put it together at the right time and beat Southern Illinois 7-2 on Sunday in the MVC Tournament final.
    Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Just in time for summer, Amazon’s Memorial Day sale slashes 25% off the price of these Nike Calm Mules, which play off the trending sneakers-to-sandals trend.
    Tim Chan, Footwear News, 22 May 2026
  • SpaceX's Starlink is rolling out a new deal that slashes the monthly price of the satellite internet service in the US by $21.
    Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 5 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bruises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bruises. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

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