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

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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
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 Upon arrival, police found 37-year-old Destiny Dunn deceased with bruises on her body, including her neck and face, and her eyelids were swollen and discolored, according to court documents. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 15 Aug. 2026 Fortunately, the baby escaped with only minor cuts and bruises, and his mother also survived, ABC News reported. — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026 Medical personnel inspected them for bruises or other indications of abuse. — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 According to the district attorney's office, prosecutors presented additional evidence during the trial showing the child had cuts and bruises in various stages of healing. — Garrett Behanna, CBS News, 9 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 The girl also had bruises inside her cheeks and cuts in her mouth. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 5 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
  • In the arrest affidavit, Ted Barnett told investigators that the scratches on his body were from an Ultimate Frisbee tournament that happened the previous weekend.
    — Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • According to Matthews, dust can be abrasive, and wood can be very sensitive to scratches.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of scratches
Noun
  • They were released after they were treated at medical facilities for scrapes, cuts, dehydration and exhaustion over the weekend, State Police Lt.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Early books—classics in their day—on whitetail deer never mentioned scrapes.
    — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 12 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 warrant states an autopsy found Murphy had contusions on her body in various stages of healing.
    — KC Baker, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
  • For contusions, wear your shin guards.
    — Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 22 May 2026
Definition of contusions
Noun
  • 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
  • The man had minor abrasions and was taken to an area hospital for evaluation and treatment.
    — Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 15 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
  • This coming season will give rise to even more over-the-air broadcasts (71), as NBC bumps its regular-season slate to 50 games, while ABC will handle 21 games.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Many stars, including Hathaway, have been embracing maternity dressing that shows off their bumps, rather than eclipsing them with boxy silhouettes.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of bumps
Verb
  • 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
  • Continue reading … DOLLAR DIPLOMACY — Taco Bell slashes prices on lettuce-free favorites to win back wary customers.
    — , FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of slashes

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Cite this Entry

“Bruises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bruises. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of bruises for Spanish Speakers

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