bruises 1 of 2

noun

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

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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
as in wounds

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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 responding Oak Bluffs police officers saw bruises on her legs and a red mark on her neck, Scalice said. — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Hutch seemed unhurt beyond a twisted knee, but Ed, stripped naked, was a mass of small cuts and bright greening bruises that made an awful background for ridges of clotted blood. — Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026 At the hospital, medical staff swabbed bruises on her friend for evidence, according to Lara. — Taylor Galgano, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026 Her sister took a photo of the bruises around Pilar’s neck and feared the worst. — Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, 14 Oct. 2026 Along with the gunshot wounds, Kowalewicz also had bruises to her neck. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 But when adolescent Elia Gheorghiu shows up at school with bruises, the community questions the traditional education the Gheorghiu yougsters are getting from their parents. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2026 She was left with multiple bruises and a lump on the back of her head. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026 One morning at school, Frida spies bruises on Elia’s back and overhears her and Emmanuel talking about having been disciplined by their parents. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bruises
  1. scratches
  2. scrapes
  3. wounds
  4. contusions
  5. abrasions
  6. gashes
  7. bumps
  8. slashes
Noun
  • For scratches or minor dings from fender benders, owners can replace the exterior body panels themselves.
    — Eric Bangeman, ArsTechnica, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Not only was there the initial flare-up, but now there were huge red scratches and hives.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of scratches
Noun
  • The Missouri researcher has captured and analyzed hundreds of thousands of trail-camera images over the years, with many of the best shots coming at scrapes doctored with a variety of scents and lures.
    — Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Memory is not so much a flow, sometimes, as a series of bumps and scrapes.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of scrapes
Verb
  • Penal Code 597 states that any person who who maliciously and intentionally maims, mutilates, tortures, or wounds a living animal is guilty of a crime.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The kitchen wounds him, heals him, and becomes his crucible of faith.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 29 July 2026
Definition of wounds
Noun
  • The shattered glass allegedly caused multiple small lacerations to the victim's face, which were visible to officers during the report, along with multiple contusions to the face.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The warrant states an autopsy found Murphy had contusions on her body in various stages of healing.
    — KC Baker, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
Definition of contusions
Noun
  • Left alone, dry eye can create tiny abrasions on the cornea, raise infection risk and in rare cases cause scarring that permanently affects vision.
    — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Johns Hopkins warns that untreated dry eye can cause corneal abrasions, infection or scarring that permanently affects vision.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of abrasions
Verb
  • Interior Secretary Doug Burgum made similar claims in television interviews in early July, saying on Fox News that vandals left gashes totaling 350 feet.
    — Maura Judkis, Washington Post, 16 July 2026
  • The front lid appears to be barely hanging on by a thread, with cuts and gashes throughout.
    — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2026
Definition of gashes
Noun
  • Prior to the past week’s bumps, Buck and Aikman had been having a smooth ride.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Of course, it won’t all be perfectly executed every night and there are bound to be bumps in the road as the team saw Friday night.
    — Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of bumps
Verb
  • Using a sharp knife, make crosswise slashes every 2 in [5 cm] along the body, cutting down to the bone.
    — Emma Specter, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Northrop Grumman slashes overall weight and reduces total part counts, manufacturing combat-ready autonomous jets at a fraction of typical costs.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of slashes

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Cite this Entry

“Bruises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bruises. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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