Synonyms of sanguinary

sanguinary

adjective

ˈsaŋ-gwə-ˌner-ē 

as in murderous

eager for or marked by the shedding of blood, extreme violence, or killing

a movie so sanguinary that I covered my eyes during at least half of it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• murderous
• bloody
• murdering
• savage
• brutal
• violent
• ferocious
• bloodthirsty
• vicious
• fierce
• sanguine
• homicidal
• sanguineous
• contentious
• cruel
• ruthless
• bloody-minded
• barbarous
• aggressive
• hostile
• merciless
• barbaric
• sadistic
• hateful
• antagonistic
• heartless
• inhumane
• belligerent
• pitiless
• gladiatorial
• pugnacious
• bellicose
• malicious
• combative
• malignant
• quarrelsome
• gory
• truculent
• grim
• discordant
• assertive
• cold-blooded
• bloodstained
• malevolent
• scrappy
• spiteful
• wanton
• malign
• nasty
• fell
• mean
• despiteful

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peaceable
• conciliatory
• peaceful
• pacific
• propitiatory
• sympathetic
• disarming
• benign
• kind
• humane
• compassionate
• dovish
• unaggressive
• warm
• benignant
• unassertive
• placatory
• merciful
• mollifying
• peacemaking
• kindhearted
• amiable
• appeasing
• placative
• lenient
• pacifying
• tenderhearted
• benevolent
• placating
• tender
• warmhearted
• gentle
• clement
• good-hearted
• amicable
• affable
• kindly
• submissive
• yielding
• surrendering

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective sanguinary contrast with its synonyms?

The words bloody and gory are common synonyms of sanguinary. While all three words mean "affected by or involving the shedding of blood," sanguinary applies especially to something attended by, or someone inclined to, bloodshed.

the Civil War was America's most sanguinary conflict

When is bloody a more appropriate choice than sanguinary?

The synonyms bloody and sanguinary are sometimes interchangeable, but bloody is applied especially to things that are actually covered with blood or are made up of blood.

bloody hands

When is it sensible to use gory instead of sanguinary?

The words gory and sanguinary can be used in similar contexts, but gory suggests a profusion of blood and slaughter.

exceptionally gory, even for a horror movie

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sanguinary

In a series of sanguinary close-ups, Elvira takes a cleaver to her digits, first slicing them and then fully dismembering them. — Andrew McGowan, Variety, 23 Dec. 2025

The film, documenting the intense, sanguinary attempt by Ukrainian soldiers to retake a village seized by Russian invaders, won Chernov the directing award for World Cinema Documentary at Sundance. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 July 2025

Mass shootings scarcely register anymore, unless the death toll reaches a certain sanguinary level. — Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2024

An appeal to force was an admission of failure, and the pride of the new nation was the sense of overcoming the sanguinary reflexes of the old world. — TIME, 31 Jan. 2024