sanguineous

adjective

san-ˈgwi-nē-əs How to pronounce sanguineous (audio)
Definition of sanguineousnext
as in murderous
eager for or marked by the shedding of blood, extreme violence, or killing in the sanguineous culture of ancient Sparta, military glory was prized above all else

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 sanguineous The viral TikTok dance sensation inspired by Wednesday star Jenny Ortega’s quirky moves that is set to the sanguineous 2011 Lady Gaga song has blown up so big that even Mother Monster couldn’t resist throwing her black veil into the ring. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 9 Dec. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanguineous
  1. murderous
  2. bloody
  3. savage
  4. sanguinary
  5. violent
  6. ferocious
  7. brutal
Adjective
  • For months, online ads have been peppering audiences with glimpses of Buddy, a ’90s children’s TV unicorn who turns creepy and murderous in what IndieWire called way back at Sundance the first great Midnight Movie of 2026.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Then came Hamas’ murderous invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023, and the even more murderous Israeli invasion of Gaza, which triggered protests and encampments on college campuses from Mexico to Australia.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of murderous
Adjective
  • Khomeini’s decision turned it into a six-year war of attrition that killed hundreds of thousands, one of the bloodiest conflicts in the region’s modern history.
    — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
  • In early 2026, satellite images revealed Akinci drones deployed in southern Egypt for executing strikes against the Rapid Support Forces fighting in the bloody civil war in neighboring Sudan.
    — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of bloody
Adjective
  • Cole, who has to maneuver his way around 20 savage crew members, each of whom will need to be killed, doesn’t waste a homicidal movement.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The savage battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa had already demonstrated the ferocity with which Japanese forces would defend their homeland.
    — James M. Scott, Time, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of savage
Adjective
  • Or some other colorful character in some other sanguinary chamber with some other lethal weapon?
    — John Beifuss, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 16 Mar. 2026
  • 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
Definition of sanguinary
Adjective
  • In the days since, the incident has sparked another round of reckoning with safety for LGBTQ people in Sacramento’s Lavender Heights neighborhood, which has seen a number of violent incidents in recent years.
    — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Scientists hoped the probe would help build a geologic history of the moon to better understand its violent origins in a cosmic impact.
    — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of violent
Adjective
  • That was the last time Tamang saw Yangri, who was whisked away by ferocious flash floods that ripped through this part of the Himalayan nation earlier this week.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The run game of Agoura is ferocious and experienced, but Westlake’s QB play is better.
    — Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of ferocious
Adjective
  • The wait can be brutal for attorneys and their clients, Yannetti told Fox News Digital.
    — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • But with one brutal tackle, that opportunity was snatched from him.
    — James Boyd, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of brutal

Browse Nearby Words

sanguineness
sanguineous
sanguinity
See all Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Sanguineous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanguineous. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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