bruised; bruising
1
: to inflict an injury involving rupture of small blood vessels and discoloration without a break in the overlying skin or a similar injury to plant tissue : to inflict a bruise (see bruise entry 1 sense 1) on : contuse
bruised her arm when he grabbed her
2
: to break down (leaves, berries, etc.) by pounding : crush
3
1
: to bear or show the effects of a bruise : to undergo bruising
her skin bruises easily
2
: to inflict a bruise
Synonyms
Examples of bruise in a Sentence
Noun
He had a bad bruise on his leg after he fell.
a bruise on an apple
Verb
She bruised her knee when she fell.
I don't want to bruise anyone's feelings.
Recent Examples on the Web
Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Jessica Vestal, the mother of the 10-year-old boy, said her son, who cannot speak, first came home from school in suburban Denver with bruises all over his body in January.
—Pilar Arias, Fox News, 10 Apr. 2024
Her last recollection was using the restroom at the club, then waking up at Motel 77 with bruises on both inner thighs, according to a police report.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
The nurse observed not only the contusion on Ricardo’s leg but also other, fading bruises.
—Deborah Sontag, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
She was found 22 days later on Thanksgiving walking on a Yolo County road and partially bound with a chain, with bruises, a brand burned into one arm and her hair cut short.
—Sam Stanton, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024
The female victim was battered and was left with bruises to the head, neck and upper body, according to Martello.
—Isabel Rosales, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024
Brogdon felt a sharp, searing pain as a bullet tore through his lower torso — below the bulletproof vest that would have otherwise left him with a painful bruise.
—The Arizona Republic, 7 Apr. 2024
Another possible cause may be a bone bruise of the kneecap or end of the femur.
—Harlan Selesnick, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 20 Apr. 2024
In animals without those factors, bruising, bleeding into body cavities and hemorrhaging can culminate in shock and death.
—Lauren Oster, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2024
At the hospital, a doctor noted that bruising indicated multiple falls while in the jail.
—James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Apr. 2024
And after a bruising 15-round speaker election, McCarthy was selected to lead the chamber.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2024
The suit includes photos of bruising on O’Marcaigh’s forearm and alleges it was caused when Christian Combs grabbed her.
O’Marcaigh fought him off until someone else walked in, according to the suit.
—Doha Madani, NBC News, 5 Apr. 2024
Doctors found severe bruising and bite marks all over Kaliyah's body and had to perform an emergency surgery to relieve bleeding and swelling to her brain.
—Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2024
Cold therapy constricts blood vessels to reduce inflammation, numbs nerve endings for pain relief, and slows circulation to prevent bruising.
—Hilary Tetenbaum, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
Dogs can suffer severe bruising, deep puncture wounds, and broken bones.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
Noun
There are few bodily injuries more relatable than bruises.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Jessica Vestal, the mother of the 10-year-old boy, said her son, who cannot speak, first came home from school in suburban Denver with bruises all over his body in January.
—Pilar Arias, Fox News, 10 Apr. 2024
Her last recollection was using the restroom at the club, then waking up at Motel 77 with bruises on both inner thighs, according to a police report.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
The nurse observed not only the contusion on Ricardo’s leg but also other, fading bruises.
—Deborah Sontag, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
She was found 22 days later on Thanksgiving walking on a Yolo County road and partially bound with a chain, with bruises, a brand burned into one arm and her hair cut short.
—Sam Stanton, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024
The female victim was battered and was left with bruises to the head, neck and upper body, according to Martello.
—Isabel Rosales, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024
Brogdon felt a sharp, searing pain as a bullet tore through his lower torso — below the bulletproof vest that would have otherwise left him with a painful bruise.
—The Arizona Republic, 7 Apr. 2024
Another possible cause may be a bone bruise of the kneecap or end of the femur.
—Harlan Selesnick, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
The versatile King Matu, who went to Deer Valley High in Antioch, also set the tone not just as a bruising ball-carrier, but as a willing tackler who pushed runners back.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 20 Apr. 2024
In animals without those factors, bruising, bleeding into body cavities and hemorrhaging can culminate in shock and death.
—Lauren Oster, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2024
At the hospital, a doctor noted that bruising indicated multiple falls while in the jail.
—James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Apr. 2024
And after a bruising 15-round speaker election, McCarthy was selected to lead the chamber.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2024
The suit includes photos of bruising on O’Marcaigh’s forearm and alleges it was caused when Christian Combs grabbed her.
O’Marcaigh fought him off until someone else walked in, according to the suit.
—Doha Madani, NBC News, 5 Apr. 2024
Doctors found severe bruising and bite marks all over Kaliyah's body and had to perform an emergency surgery to relieve bleeding and swelling to her brain.
—Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2024
Cold therapy constricts blood vessels to reduce inflammation, numbs nerve endings for pain relief, and slows circulation to prevent bruising.
—Hilary Tetenbaum, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
Dogs can suffer severe bruising, deep puncture wounds, and broken bones.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bruise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near bruise
Cite this Entry
“Bruise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bruise. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bruise
1 of 2 verb
bruised; bruising
1
a
: to cause a bruise on
b
: to become bruised
2
: to crush (as leaves or berries) by pounding
3
: to hurt the feelings of
bruise
2 of 2 noun1
: an injury (as from a blow) in which the skin is not broken but is discolored from the breaking of small blood vessels that lie underneath the skin : contusion
2
: an injury to a plant or fruit that resembles a bruise
Medical Definition
bruise
2 of 2 noun1
: an injury transmitted through unbroken skin to underlying tissue causing rupture of small blood vessels and escape of blood into the tissue with resulting discoloration : contusion
2
: an injury especially to the feelings
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