bruise

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: an injury involving rupture of small blood vessels and discoloration without a break in the overlying skin : contusion
b
: a similar injury to plant tissue
2
3
: an injury especially to the feelings
criticisms that left a bruise

bruise

2 of 2

verb

bruised; bruising

transitive verb

1
: to inflict an injury involving rupture of small blood vessels and discoloration without a break in the overlying skin or a similar injury to plant tissue : to inflict a bruise (see bruise entry 1 sense 1) on : contuse
bruised her arm when he grabbed her
2
: to break down (leaves, berries, etc.) by pounding : crush
3
: wound, injure
especially : to inflict psychological hurt on
The professional and personal tumbles that have bruised your ego in the past 12 months are over. New Woman
4
a
: batter, dent
bruise armor
b
archaic : disable

intransitive verb

1
: to bear or show the effects of a bruise : to undergo bruising
her skin bruises easily
2
: to inflict a bruise

Examples of bruise in a Sentence

Noun He had a bad bruise on his leg after he fell. a bruise on an apple Verb She bruised her knee when she fell. I don't want to bruise anyone's feelings.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The team later announced that Bailey had suffered a right hand contusion, or bruise, averting the worst-case scenario of a possible fracture. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 After missing four of five games because of a bone bruise in his left knee, Kansas senior guard Kevin McCullar returned to score 39 points combined in a loss to Baylor and victory over Kansas State. Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2024 Rest, sleep, off days, a chance to heal bumps and bruises, an opportunity to refresh the mind and soul — all overrated. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024 The woman hit the 17-year-old in the left eye with a cellphone, giving her a cut and bruise, police said. Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2024 The court document included pictures of the unidentified victim, who appeared to have bruises and cuts around his right eye. Cristian Santana, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2024 The Heat was also without two other rotation players in Kevin Love (right heel bruise) and Josh Richardson (right shoulder dislocation) against the Jazz. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2024 Injuries are part of the game — but Duke men's basketball coach Jon Scheyer takes issue when those bumps and bruises come after time expires and during stampedes of celebrating fans. David K. Li, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2024 In a previous statement, former Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters said Nahla was taken to a children’s hospital with a broken arm, bruises to her torso, and damage to her organs. Sarah Dewberry, CNN, 23 Feb. 2024
Verb
And when Davis did provide extra help defense, Sabonis (16 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists) punished the Lakers with offensive rebounds for second-chance points or bruising interior play to set up his own scoring chances. Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 7 Mar. 2024 Nikki Haley, the last candidate standing between Trump and the Republican nomination, ended her presidential campaign after absorbing bruising losses on Super Tuesday, effectively ending the Republican primary season. Lisa Lerer, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Schiff ran ads propping up Garvey in the hopes of avoiding a bruising Democrat-on-Democrat race. Marisa Lagos, NPR, 5 Mar. 2024 This year's Oscars race come after a bruising 2023 that was marred by strikes and work stoppages for the cinema world, throwing production and release schedules into chaos. Leanne Italie, Quartz, 2 Mar. 2024 In that book, Louis fictionalizes the story of his bruising childhood in Hallencourt, a working-class town in northern France. Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 29 Feb. 2024 Boosted blood flow can also slightly increase your chances of bruising, Dr. Chiu explains. Jenny McCoy, SELF, 15 Feb. 2024 The pipe crushed his spine, and fragments of bone badly bruised his spinal cord. Maya Miller, Sacramento Bee, 22 Feb. 2024 Last year was bruising for a restaurant industry still recovering from pandemic shutdowns and buffeted by rising costs and labor shortages. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bruise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

noun derivative of bruise entry 2

Verb

Middle English brusen, brisen, from Anglo-French & Old English; Anglo-French bruiser, briser to break, of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish bruid he shatters; Old English brȳsan to bruise; akin to Old Irish bruid, Latin frustum piece

First Known Use

Noun

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4b

Time Traveler
The first known use of bruise was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near bruise

Cite this Entry

“Bruise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bruise. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bruise

1 of 2 verb
bruised; bruising
1
a
: to cause a bruise on
b
: to become bruised
2
: to crush (as leaves or berries) by pounding
3
: to hurt the feelings of

bruise

2 of 2 noun
1
: an injury (as from a blow) in which the skin is not broken but is discolored from the breaking of small blood vessels that lie underneath the skin : contusion
2
: an injury to a plant or fruit that resembles a bruise

Medical Definition

bruise

1 of 2 verb
bruised; bruising

transitive verb

1
: to inflict a bruise on : contuse
2
: wound, injure
especially : to inflict psychological hurt on

intransitive verb

: to undergo bruising
she bruises easily

bruise

2 of 2 noun
1
: an injury transmitted through unbroken skin to underlying tissue causing rupture of small blood vessels and escape of blood into the tissue with resulting discoloration : contusion
2
: an injury especially to the feelings

More from Merriam-Webster on bruise

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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