bruises 1 of 2

noun

plural of bruise
1
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
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

Related Words

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
One of the book’s more memorable revelations details a physical altercation with his brother that Harry claimed left him with cuts and bruises. — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026 According to court records, police found Dunn deceased in a motel room with bruises on her body, including her neck and face, and her eyelids were swollen and discolored. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026 The victim suffered multiple injuries, including lacerations and bruises. — Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 The warrants indicated that the child’s body was covered in bruises, including one that resembled a shoe print, per the outlet. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 22 Aug. 2026 When the teenage Elia Gheorghiu turns up at school with bruises on her body, the community asks itself if the traditional education the children receive from their parents might have anything to do with it. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026 Medical personnel inspected them for bruises or other indications of abuse. — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 Key Background Allegations of physical abuse made by Emily Moreno against Miller first became public in May in the Daily Mail, which published photos of bruises Emily Moreno said were caused by the abuse. — Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Officers found Arabella Nix was severely emaciated, with her body completely covered in bruises and scars, according to the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bruises
  1. scratches
  2. scrapes
  3. wounds
  4. contusions
  5. abrasions
  6. gashes
  7. bumps
  8. slashes
Noun
  • Regularly inspect your spatulas for any sign of wear, including loose components, cracks, scratches or dents.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Given that matte white finishes are sometimes made out of enamel, scratches and chips are a possibility, Bennett shares.
    — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of scratches
Noun
  • This follows previous scrapes of the dataset posted on Reddit (since taken down by the original poster) and the AI model clearinghouse Hugging Face.
    — Rob Salkowitz, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Cut marks and scrapes made by flint knives at consistent locations on the bones indicate local humans butchered many of them for meals.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of scrapes
Verb
  • The kitchen wounds him, heals him, and becomes his crucible of faith.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 29 July 2026
  • The Atlanta Games are later marred by the Centennial Olympic Park bombing that kills Alice Hawthorne, wounds 111 others.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of wounds
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
  • Detectives noted that there were no marks or abrasions on her neck, the warrant affidavit said.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The number one safety tip is to not add boiling water to the foot bath, resulting in burns or abrasions to the feet.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 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
  • Recent launch events have mostly settled into a predictable cadence of incremental camera upgrades and routine spec bumps.
    — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Therefore, wearing a watch on your left wrist is a smart styling choice, leaving your investment piece less prone to scratches, bumps, and other wear and tear.
    — Larissa Ratschkowski, Glamour, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of bumps
Verb
  • Critics argue the effort slashes the limited due process immigrants receive.
    — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Applying this rule to back-to-school clothes, summer swimwear, and winter boots takes minimal extra effort (plus a little storage space) and slashes kid clothing budgets in half.
    — Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 31 July 2026
Definition of slashes

Browse Nearby Words

bruised
bruises
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Cite this Entry

“Bruises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bruises. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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