bruising 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of bruisingnext
as in oppressive

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Dissimilar Words

bruising

2 of 2

verb

present participle of bruise
as in lacerating

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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 bruising
Adjective
Marcus ends her book by wondering whether the neutral ideal of the court can survive the bruising battle of Kavanaugh’s confirmation process. — John Fabian Witt, The New Republic, 7 Apr. 2020 The University of Maryland, College Park has been at the center of most of the bruising scandals, most notably the death of a 19-year-old football player Jordan McNair and ensuing reports of a troubled culture within the athletic department. — Talia Richman, baltimoresun.com, 9 Nov. 2019 Even Mr Macron’s domestic standing has started to recover, having taken a bruising soon after coming into office. — The Economist, 7 Nov. 2019 Adding to the challenges for Chief Justice Roberts, the Supreme Court’s latest term, which ended in June, was particularly bruising and divisive. — Jess Bravin, WSJ, 7 Oct. 2018 See All Example Sentences for bruising
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bruising
  1. oppressive
  2. lacerating
  3. severe
  4. slashing
  5. exhausting
  6. haggling
  7. formidable
  8. hacking
Adjective
  • Returning home with the glittering medal draped on his neck, Cassius is lauded but also thrust right back into the oppressive, segregated and deeply racist Louisville.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Where individual agency is always primary, the customer is always right and authority is generally considered oppressive.
    — Kristian Vistrup Madsen, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of oppressive
Verb
  • Two generations of viewers have now grown up consuming The Daily Show’s lacerating take on politics.
    — Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
  • In the last year, Huston has broken his eye socket — twice — and his jaw, as well as lacerating his kidney, per posts on his social media.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 28 June 2026
Definition of lacerating
Adjective
  • Snap confidentially settled a case claiming that its technology caused severe psychological distress to two teenage users.
    — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Mayor Kevin McCarty outlined plans to build more tiny homes, bring a Major League Baseball team to Sacramento and lobby for changes to the state court system that would connect people with severe mental illness to potentially lifesaving services.
    — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of severe
Verb
  • Medicare could soon save beneficiaries over a billion dollars on prescription drugs — without slashing the price of a single medicine.
    — Ted Okon, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Republican Scott Walker won that year, and over the next eight years enacted a wide array of Republican priorities that included drastically scaling back union rights, slashing taxes and requiring voters to show identification at the polls.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of slashing
Adjective
  • The cynical nihilism of it all is exhausting, and ultimately the joke is on us.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • What was once an exhausting logistical trial has become the first chapter in a grand Antarctic journey.
    — Liam Hess, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of exhausting
Verb
  • Whether those disparate parties can form a government is uncertain and will likely take weeks of haggling.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The Trasks encounter a wide swath of citizens, haggling with sneaky cheats, exploiting innocent fools, and befriending big-hearted neighbors.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of haggling
Adjective
  • Their pass defense is specifically interesting, allowing over 227 passing yards per game, even while boasting one of the most talented and formidable defensive backfields in the game.
    — Langston Wertz Jr, Charlotte Observer, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The formidable organization of Seminole County Democrats (aka the SemDems) was clearly a factor there.
    — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of formidable
Verb
  • Blockchain firms have pointed to the attack coming from a North Korean hacking unit.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • No hacking group has claimed responsibility for either wave of incidents.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of hacking

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bruises
bruising
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Cite this Entry

“Bruising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bruising. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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