SANGUINARY Synonyms: 92 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

sanguinary

adjective

ˈsaŋ-gwə-ˌner-ē

Definition of sanguinary

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

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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

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 sanguinary In a series of sanguinary close-ups, Elvira takes a cleaver to her digits, first slicing them and then fully dismembering them. — Andrew McGowan, Variety, 23 Dec. 2025 The film, documenting the intense, sanguinary attempt by Ukrainian soldiers to retake a village seized by Russian invaders, won Chernov the directing award for World Cinema Documentary at Sundance. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 July 2025 Mass shootings scarcely register anymore, unless the death toll reaches a certain sanguinary level. — Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 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 See All Example Sentences for sanguinary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanguinary

Adjective

And our terrifying capacity to dehumanize others only accelerates, at a murderous rate, in a touchless world.

— Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
The celebs are competing to weed out the murderous Traitors among them for a cash prize of £100,000 for a charity of their choice in Ardross Castle in the Highlands.

— Mya Copeland, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of murderous

Adjective

In December 2024, Syrian rebels streamed into Damascus in a surprise attack that toppled President Bashar al-Assad and put an end to more than 13 bloody years of civil war.

— Emily Feng, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026
The Administration’s tactics have reminded her of recent malicious acts in France tied to Russian operatives, such as the defacing of a Holocaust memorial with bloody handprints and the planting of a pig’s head outside a mosque.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of bloody

Adjective

Now in his 25th year on television, Chuck has built a beloved media career through brutal honesty.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Although the decrease in shot volume wasn’t quite as dramatic, Giddey went 1-for-10 from the field and scored only two points in Wednesday’s brutal beatdown by the Raptors.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of brutal

Adjective

Government critics and human rights campaigners have alleged that police tactics in the last month have been unnecessarily violent.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
But complicating the government's efforts to bring the French deficit under control are widespread protests that have turned increasingly violent since starting as a Parisian student movement last month.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of violent

Browse Nearby Words

sang (out)

sanguinary

sanguine

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

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Synonyms of sanguinary

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