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

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

Michael Modafferi Lawmakers and order Yonkers: How many more innocents will be murdered, mugged and mauled by sanguinary, recidivist thugs and mentally ill individuals, none of whom belong unfettered on the streets of New York City and state, before the left-wing Democrats restore law and order? —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 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

That battle would send Bonaparte on a dizzying journey up — and down and up and down — the greasy pole of French politics and military promotions, and it’s staged by Scott with sanguinary detail: Blood will spurt, spray and splatter throughout the battles that made him and undid him. —Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023