bruises 1 of 2

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

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
Verb
The jury was also shown images of bloody gashes and bruises on Ventura’s body during trial. Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025 The announcement followed visible swelling in his legs and bruises on his hands. Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025 In terms of the types of injuries sustained, 35% were periocular lacerations (cuts near the eye), 16% were corneal abrasions, iritis (inflammation of the iris, the colored part of the eye) accounted for 8%, and contusions/bruises 5%. New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2025 The boy’s twin sister was later found at a friend’s home with a swollen eye, bruises and scratches. Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025 Regardless of who was responsible for the crowd’s behavior — and contrary to university spokesperson Lewis saying there were no injuries — students in attendance reported experiencing bruises, cuts, breathing problems and asthma attacks and witnessing others seriously bleeding. Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2025 Pilot injured, passengers rebooked Photos shared online appeared to show one of the pilots with minor bruises and cuts on his forearm, likely caused by flying glass shards. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025 The injury report on Friday was mixed for the Chargers, who have suffered plenty of bumps, bruises, sprains and strains since training camp opened back in July and yet managed to record a 4-2 record going into Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts at SoFi Stadium. Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025 Jaundiced-looking skin, dime-sized bruises on the arms. Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bruises
Noun
  • The Pander fanny pack from Amazon is made with water-resistant nylon and stands up against scratches, promising long-lasting durability.
    Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Even worse, scratches, dents, and imperfections can stand out dramatically.
    Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • All told, DeRose-Broeckert collected data from 109 fresh rubs and 37 fresh scrapes.
    Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The report also described bruises, scrapes and open sores across his chest, back, arms and legs.
    Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Even with all of them in place, Shirley misses the masked attacker sneaking his way up to the apartment door, and Lamb’s attempt to blind him with bleach creates a chaotic struggle that wounds the assailant without containing him.
    Scott Tobias, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Set against Mumbai’s relentless pulse, their delicate connection faces tests as personal histories, desires, and wounds resurface.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In terms of the types of injuries sustained, 35% were periocular lacerations (cuts near the eye), 16% were corneal abrasions, iritis (inflammation of the iris, the colored part of the eye) accounted for 8%, and contusions/bruises 5%.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Bone contusions can usually heal with rest and rehab.
    Harlan Selesnick, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In terms of the types of injuries sustained, 35% were periocular lacerations (cuts near the eye), 16% were corneal abrasions, iritis (inflammation of the iris, the colored part of the eye) accounted for 8%, and contusions/bruises 5%.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2025
  • An autopsy conducted on Campbell revealed significant amount of bruising and abrasions to the boy's head, face, torso, back and extremities.
    Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Heupel spreads out his receivers in an attempt to spread out the defense, then gashes them with the run.
    Seth Emerson, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The pictures show scars and gashes around the dog's snout.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Possible bumps in the road Defense will top the agenda.
    Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Las Vegas was expected to have some bumps early in the season with a new coaching staff and new quarterback Geno Smith working together.
    Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Mogollon Monster The Mogollon Monster is Arizona's Bigfoot, a legendary creature said to inhabit the Mogollon Rim, a rugged and densely forested area that slashes across the state.
    Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 17 Oct. 2025
  • This sale slashes $450 off the retail price of the HP OmniBook X Flip, a premium 2-in-1 featuring a 16-inch touch display.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bruises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bruises. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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