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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Recent Examples of bruises
Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Pilot injured, passengers rebooked Photos shared online appeared to show one of the pilots with minor bruises and cuts on his forearm, likely caused by flying glass shards.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
The injury report on Friday was mixed for the Chargers, who have suffered plenty of bumps, bruises, sprains and strains since training camp opened back in July and yet managed to record a 4-2 record going into Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts at SoFi Stadium.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
Jaundiced-looking skin, dime-sized bruises on the arms.
—Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
In 2011, schoolteacher Ellen Greenberg was found dead on the kitchen floor of her Philadelphia apartment with some 20 knife wounds and numerous bruises.
—Brandon Griggs, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
With just a few bruises, the buck was sent to the Bald Mountain Recreation Area by the Oakland County Animal Control and then successfully freed.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Pumpkins with bruises or cuts won't last quite as long.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025
Over the next few days, the eggplants sat in my crisper drawer, soft spots spreading across their skin like bruises.
—Reem Kassis, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
Regardless of who was responsible for the crowd’s behavior — and contrary to university spokesperson Lewis saying there were no injuries — students in attendance reported experiencing bruises, cuts, breathing problems and asthma attacks and witnessing others seriously bleeding.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Pilot injured, passengers rebooked Photos shared online appeared to show one of the pilots with minor bruises and cuts on his forearm, likely caused by flying glass shards.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
The injury report on Friday was mixed for the Chargers, who have suffered plenty of bumps, bruises, sprains and strains since training camp opened back in July and yet managed to record a 4-2 record going into Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts at SoFi Stadium.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
Jaundiced-looking skin, dime-sized bruises on the arms.
—Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
In 2011, schoolteacher Ellen Greenberg was found dead on the kitchen floor of her Philadelphia apartment with some 20 knife wounds and numerous bruises.
—Brandon Griggs, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
With just a few bruises, the buck was sent to the Bald Mountain Recreation Area by the Oakland County Animal Control and then successfully freed.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Pumpkins with bruises or cuts won't last quite as long.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025
Over the next few days, the eggplants sat in my crisper drawer, soft spots spreading across their skin like bruises.
—Reem Kassis, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bruises
Noun
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Animals transmit the virus to humans with bites and scratches, or when humans come in contact with infected body fluids while hunting, preparing, cooking or eating animals, according to the WHO.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
17 Oct. 2025
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Veteran receivers Curtis Samuel and Elijah Moore have been healthy scratches already.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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All told, DeRose-Broeckert collected data from 109 fresh rubs and 37 fresh scrapes.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
16 Oct. 2025
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The report also described bruises, scrapes and open sores across his chest, back, arms and legs.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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Set against Mumbai’s relentless pulse, their delicate connection faces tests as personal histories, desires, and wounds resurface.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Bone contusions can usually heal with rest and rehab.—
Harlan Selesnick,
Miami Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
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Also, the contusions on the right forearm appeared to the undersigned to be of different ages.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Minor cuts and abrasions aren’t cause for concern, but major damage causes tubers to spoil faster in storage.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Oct. 2025
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The dad suffered head injuries and the daughter reported abrasions from the restraints, police said.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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The pictures show scars and gashes around the dog's snout.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The injury report on Friday was mixed for the Chargers, who have suffered plenty of bumps, bruises, sprains and strains since training camp opened back in July and yet managed to record a 4-2 record going into Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts at SoFi Stadium.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
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Plus, its built with a sleek, sturdy metal shell, which makes the drive look great and hold up to bumps and falls.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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To placate the rideshare companies, Newsom signed a separate bill that slashes their insurance requirements for accidents.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
15 Oct. 2025
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Researchers at Rice University have developed a new catalyst that slashes iridium use in proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers by over 80%.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bruises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bruises. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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