Thesaurus results for BRUISE

bruise 1 of 2

noun

ˈbrüz

Definition of bruise

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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

At the hospital, medical staff swabbed bruises on her friend for evidence, according to Lara. — Taylor Galgano, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026 Instead, Allen was diagnosed with a bone bruise on his left shin and back within about a week. — Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026

Verb

It was seen as a sure-fire way to burn bridges or at least bruise feelings between a club and its players. — Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 13 July 2026 Take two mint crowns, lightly bruise them with your fingers, and stick them against the inside close to the straw. — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bruise

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bruise

Noun

The album featured the sexy, chicken-scratch funk of the 1970s melted down to something slow and gooey next to early-morning comedown music for a ’90s-style sunrise in the chill-out room.

— Jack Denton, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
The ice cream shop, currently open in the Brookside area, is known for its small-batch, made-from-scratch French-style ice cream and rotating flavor lineup.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of scratch

Noun

The Missouri researcher has captured and analyzed hundreds of thousands of trail-camera images over the years, with many of the best shots coming at scrapes doctored with a variety of scents and lures.

— Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 14 Oct. 2026
Memory is not so much a flow, sometimes, as a series of bumps and scrapes.

— Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of scrape

Verb

Two women, ages 50 and 60, were killed and dozens of other people were wounded in a Russian strike on a market in Lozova, in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, said Oleh Syniehubov, head of the regional military administration.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Three more soldiers were lightly wounded in the attack in the city of Hebron, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

— Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of wound

Noun

Redick said rookie Cameron Carr (undisclosed), guard Collin Sexton (lower leg) and forwards Ziaire Williams (right foot contusion) and Adou Thiero (undisclosed) are still day to day with their injuries.

— Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
The Hawks ruled out veteran guard CJ McCollum with a nose contusion ahead of Monday night’s game, opening the door for the rookie guard to run with the remaining available starters.

— Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of contusion

Noun

Left alone, dry eye can create tiny abrasions on the cornea, raise infection risk and in rare cases cause scarring that permanently affects vision.

— Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Johns Hopkins warns that untreated dry eye can cause corneal abrasions, infection or scarring that permanently affects vision.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of abrasion

Noun

Both Dario Amodei and Daniela Amodei received raises in 2025 and two pay bumps this year.

— Ashley Capoot,Jordan Novet,Annie Palmer,Lora Kolodny,Kai Nicol-Schwarz,Caleigh Keating, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Larson took the white flag in the lead but lost 10 spots after getting shoved out of first on several bumps by Austin Hill.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of bump

Verb

Afterward, Lindsay slit her wrists and neck, then jumped out of a second-story window.

— Selena Barrientos, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
Instead Justine shows up to slit his throat and take the baby from him, leaving him for dead; the child winds up disappearing with Holtz into a hell dimension.

— Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of slit

Browse Nearby Words

browsing

bruise

bruised

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Bruise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bruise. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of bruise

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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