bloodshed

noun

blood·​shed ˈbləd-ˌshed 

1

: the shedding of blood

2

: the taking of life : slaughter

Examples of bloodshed in a Sentence

Years of violence and bloodshed have left much of the country in ruins.

Recent Examples on the Web

On his last full day as president, Joe Biden celebrated as a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas officially took effect, raising hopes that months of bloodshed in the Gaza Strip were finally coming to an end. —Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025

Getting there, though, requires a bit of bloodshed. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 24 Feb. 2025

As a result of the bloodshed, President Clinton ordered that the mission to capture Aidid be abandoned. —Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 11 Feb. 2025

But Gaza — marked by decades of bloodshed — is a uniquely volatile addition to the roll call of lands whose sovereignty and assets have come under Trump’s restless eye. —Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bloodshed

• abed
• ahead
• beachhead
• bedspread
• bedstead
• behead
• blackhead
• blockhead
• bowhead
• breastfed
• bridgehead
• broadhead

Kids Definition

bloodshed

noun

blood·​shed -ˌshed 

1

: the shedding of blood

2

: the taking of life : slaughter