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 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 But both sides, big, purple ears and bruises. Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 26 Jan. 2026 So, bruises, scrapes, fractures, and dislocations. Lauren Linder, CBS News, 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 Avoid any heads with cracks, bruises, wilting leaves, or signs of mold. Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bruises
Noun
  • Blood was also around his nose and mouth, and scratches.
    Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Beyond its polished look, the durable material is built to resist scuffs and scratches from regular wear.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • Youthful pond hockey injuries and years of surfing scrapes have been absorbed as painful but far from disabling.
    Fred Schruers, Rolling Stone, 26 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 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
  • The 55-year-old’s body showed signs of struggle, with the autopsy report noting abrasions on his chest and knees and hemorrhages on his neck, AP reported.
    Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026
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
  • 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 1 Feb. 2026.

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