bruise 1 of 2

1
as in scratch
a bodily injury in which small blood vessels are broken but the overlying skin is not she got quite a big bruise from walking into the corner of the table

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2
as in scrape
an area of skin roughened or worn away by harsh rubbing against another surface bruises caused by ill-fitting hiking boots

Synonyms & Similar Words

bruise

2 of 2

verb

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 bruise
Noun
Bromelain’s anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects are often used to treat sports injuries, bruises, contractures, strains and muscle pulls. Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 17 Mar. 2025 The third time the camera finds him, Quaid still has the cast and neck brace, in addition to new bruises and a bandage around his head. Shania Russell, EW.com, 11 Mar. 2025
Verb
Not even one month after their offensive line was battered and bruised in Super Bowl LIX, the Chiefs have traded away one of their most reliable linemen. Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2025 Additionally, bruising is common among older people. Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bruise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bruise
Noun
  • Nearly 80 Tesla vehicles parked outside the dealership had been damaged, including deep scratches and punctured tires, police relayed in a news release.
    Kate Gibson, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Two weeks to design a team from scratch that could win in the brutally competitive Big Ten Conference and return Maryland to the NCAA Tournament.
    Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The beloved product is revered across generations for its versatile uses, which include but aren’t limited to, removing makeup, healing small cuts and scrapes, and even extending the lasting power of perfume.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2025
  • There was a large scrape in the crusted snow among the boulders.
    Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The strike hit the surgical building of Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Yunis, the ministry said, days after the facility was overwhelmed with the dead and wounded when Israel resumed the war in Gaza last week with a surprise wave of airstrikes.
    Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Authorities said that Taylor’s sons, Josiah Hooker, 8, and a 5-year-old found a loaded 9mm Smith and Wesson semiautomatic handgun on a television stand that Taylor had left unattended at the family home in the 1400 block of East 71st Place when they were both wounded around 5:20 p.m. on Thursday.
    William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • All-Star Heat shooting guard Tyler Herro has a left hip contusion but will play.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Herro, too: Listed as questionable earlier in the day due to hip contusion, Herro played with an aggressive bent.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 24 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • One of the girls felt something slide across her neck, resulting in an abrasion on her neck, Memon told CNN.
    Yash Roy, CNN, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Within minutes medics had pronounced the boy dead at the scene and noticed abrasions and darkening on his face.
    Noe Padilla, USA TODAY, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Houston established the run early with Joe Mixon, and Stroud made clutch throws while gashing the Chiefs with passes over the middle of the field.
    Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 19 Jan. 2025
  • The Razorbacks gashed the Tigers for 44 points in the paint a week ago.
    Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 2 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The first dose of MMR vaccine is about 93% effective against measles and the second dose bumps that to 97%, Moyer said.
    Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Acute inflammation is short-term, safe, and required (say, the bump that occurs along with a bruise that’s part of the healing process).
    Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Then, fearing he'd be blamed, Tripp stole a knife from the office of pastry chef Didier Gotthard (Bronson Pinchot) and used it to slit A.B.'s wrists in order to make his death look more like a suicide.
    Megan McCluskey, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Heat is then directed upward and outward via outlet slits on the card edges to reduce the recirculation of heated air.
    John Burek, PCMAG, 20 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bruise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bruise. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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