Thesaurus results for BRUISES

bruises 1 of 2

noun

plural of bruise

as in scratches

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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as in scrapes

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

bruises

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bruise

as in wounds

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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 bruises

Noun

Along with the gunshot wounds, Kowalewicz also had bruises to her neck. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 But when adolescent Elia Gheorghiu shows up at school with bruises, the community questions the traditional education the Gheorghiu yougsters are getting from their parents. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2026 She was left with multiple bruises and a lump on the back of her head. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026 One morning at school, Frida spies bruises on Elia’s back and overhears her and Emmanuel talking about having been disciplined by their parents. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026 Seeing a division foe three times in less than two weeks is bound to leave some dings and bruises. — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026 Dublin police later opened a criminal investigation into those claims, during which Jang said McKinsey had previously been violent with her in 2018 by grabbing her wrist hard enough to leave bruises, according to court records. — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 28 Sep. 2026 The photos captured his swollen head, wrists, neck and arms covered in deep purple bruises. — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2026 Tucker picked up some extra bumps and bruises Saturday, most notably fouling a pitch off his right knee in the third inning. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bruises

Noun

Yes, because it’s made of durable Gorilla Glass to prevent scuffs and scratches.

— Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026
According to the warrant affidavit, Flagge said the girl appeared fine but had some scratches on her.

— Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of scratches

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 scrapes

Noun

The shattered glass allegedly caused multiple small lacerations to the victim's face, which were visible to officers during the report, along with multiple contusions to the face.

— CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
The warrant states an autopsy found Murphy had contusions on her body in various stages of healing.

— KC Baker, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026

Definition of contusions

Noun

Most had abrasions and small cuts, and all but the driver have since been treated and released, authorities said Monday during a press briefing.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Machado also had abrasions on her lower back, near a tattoo of Julia’s name, that Lew said are consistent with her hands being tied behind her back.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of abrasions

Verb

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum made similar claims in television interviews in early July, saying on Fox News that vandals left gashes totaling 350 feet.

— Maura Judkis, Washington Post, 16 July 2026
The front lid appears to be barely hanging on by a thread, with cuts and gashes throughout.

— Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2026

Definition of gashes

Noun

For 2026-2027, however, many ticket tiers remain unchanged, while those that are rising are seeing some of the smallest bumps in recent memory.

— Tom Tapp, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
In a more recent video, Dykes shared that a few other bumps in the road had come up as the group continued to make their way over the border between the Central African Republic and Cameroon.

— Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of bumps

Verb

Using a sharp knife, make crosswise slashes every 2 in [5 cm] along the body, cutting down to the bone.

— Emma Specter, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
Northrop Grumman slashes overall weight and reduces total part counts, manufacturing combat-ready autonomous jets at a fraction of typical costs.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of slashes

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bruised

bruises

bruising

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“Bruises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bruises. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of bruises

noun

verb

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