Definition of contusionnext
as in bruise
a bodily injury in which small blood vessels are broken but the overlying skin is not suffered multiple contusions as a result of a car accident

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 contusion Acuña was listed as day-to-day with a contusion after X-rays and a CT scan showed no serious damage. — ABC News, 22 Sep. 2026 Right tackle Luke Goedeke tore his plantar fascia and suffered a severe foot contusion, and missed six games. — Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026 Police say the attack left the woman with a laceration on her lip, a contusion around her nose and an abrasion on her neck. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026 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, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contusion
bruise
Noun
  • When adolescent Elia Gheorghiu shows up at school with bruises, the community questions the traditional education the Gheorghiu children are getting from their parents.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026
  • She was left with multiple bruises and a lump on the back of her head.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contusion. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on contusion

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster