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
Relevance
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
Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 11 Nov. 2025
Additional bruises were found on the musician’s hip, thigh, and abdomen.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2025
The Jones victory comes amid a political landscape that has shifted regarding cancel culture and the intensity and lasting effects of political bruises.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Dog Days volunteers took Sunny to the vet for treatment for some minor cuts and bruises, and then the wait was finally over.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
At one point, the seventh-grader was assaulted, leaving bruises.
—Mikelle Street, Them., 31 Oct. 2025
Eileen Weir suffered multiple abrasions and bruises.
—Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2025
Rookie seasons in the NFL are almost always full of bumps, bruises, mistakes and welcome-to-the-league moments.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
The jury was also shown images of bloody gashes and bruises on Ventura’s body during trial.
—Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
McClure would briefly lose custody of her children later that year after they were taken to a hospital with several marks, welts and bruises, the lawsuit alleges.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 11 Nov. 2025
Additional bruises were found on the musician’s hip, thigh, and abdomen.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2025
The Jones victory comes amid a political landscape that has shifted regarding cancel culture and the intensity and lasting effects of political bruises.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Dog Days volunteers took Sunny to the vet for treatment for some minor cuts and bruises, and then the wait was finally over.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
At one point, the seventh-grader was assaulted, leaving bruises.
—Mikelle Street, Them., 31 Oct. 2025
Eileen Weir suffered multiple abrasions and bruises.
—Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2025
Rookie seasons in the NFL are almost always full of bumps, bruises, mistakes and welcome-to-the-league moments.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
The jury was also shown images of bloody gashes and bruises on Ventura’s body during trial.
—Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bruises
Noun
-
After several flights, the shell is still free of scratches and signs of wear.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
-
In the Facebook video, Loki happily accepted gentle petting and head scratches.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Active anthill, choreographed by collision warning systems,music arranged by sonics of bumps and scrapes.—
Leslie Simon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Nov. 2025
-
All told, DeRose-Broeckert collected data from 109 fresh rubs and 37 fresh scrapes.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
16 Oct. 2025
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
-
According to the report, a CT scan of Frehley’s head revealed multiple contusions, bone fractures to the back of his skull, hemorrhages, and a subdural hematoma (the type of bleeding that occurs in a person’s brain after a head injury).—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Others have complained of breaks, tears, contusions, and concussions.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Corneal abrasions typically heal in a matter of days with the proper treatment but can be debilitating initially.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Eileen Weir suffered multiple abrasions and bruises.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
The pictures show scars and gashes around the dog's snout.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
If there’s just one adult in a family who can work, the new plan bumps their payment from $400 to $580 a month.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The shell is built to withstand bumps and dings, while the textured finish helps hide wear and tear from travel.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The results come as Merck slashes $3 billion in costs by the end of 2027, and prepares to offset revenue losses from the upcoming patent expiration of Keytruda in 2028.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Mogollon Monster The Mogollon Monster is Arizona's Bigfoot, a legendary creature said to inhabit the Mogollon Rim, a rugged and densely forested area that slashes across the state.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bruises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bruises. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share