1
a
: an injury to the body (as from violence, accident, or surgery) that typically involves laceration or breaking of a membrane (such as the skin) and usually damage to underlying tissues
b
: a cut or breach in a plant usually due to an external agent
2
: a mental or emotional hurt or blow
3
: something resembling a wound in appearance or effect
especially
: a rift in or blow to a political body or social group
wounded; wounding; wounds
: to cause a wound to or in
: to inflict a wound
Synonyms
Examples of wound in a Sentence
Noun
She suffered a knife wound to her thigh.
Her mother's scorn left a wound that never healed.
Verb
Four people were seriously wounded in the explosion.
The soldier's leg was wounded by a grenade.
Losing the match wounded his pride.
Recent Examples on the Web
Clarence Williams, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Officers arrived at the scene to find a man suffering from a gunshot wound, court records stated.
—Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
Roberts died on March 6, 2020, from a gunshot wound, and his death was a homicide, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2024
The iceman also had a head injury, possibly sustained at the same time, and his right hand shows a defensive wound.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024
Police identified her on Tuesday afternoon as Danielle Johnson, 34.
MORE: Bodycam footage shows Akron police shooting of teen determined to be holding a fake gun
Authorities on Monday found the father dead from apparent stab wounds in an apartment in Woodland Hills.
—Julia Reinstein, ABC News, 9 Apr. 2024
Their child suffered deep puncture wounds, bruising, missed three days of school due to foot pain and was placed on antibiotics, the lawsuit alleged.
—Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024
What were some findings that stood out to you that illustrate these collective wounds for people living in Gaza?
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
Emergency medical services administered one round of Narcan and discovered a gunshot wound in Bartrom’s chest.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2024
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2024
Court documents say gunshots were fired at six others who were not wounded.
—Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 11 Apr. 2024
One person was killed and five people — including two boys — were wounded in a shooting early Wednesday evening in Northeast Washington, police said.
—Clarence Williams, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Lopez said investigators still don’t know whether anyone other than the security guard was wounded by the time police arrived, which would have been more concerning to the officers on the scene, but it can’t be ruled out.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2024
At least seven children between the ages of 12 and 17 were wounded in the shooting near a mall in the downtown area, CNN reported at the time.
—Zenebou Sylla and Sabrina Souza, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza was wounded on Oct. 21, 2021, when a gun being wielded as a prop by Baldwin discharged a live round.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 9 Apr. 2024
Deputies arrived and found Scott wounded in the vehicle.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 8 Apr. 2024
Eighteen members of the battalion were killed and many more were wounded.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Noun
One man died of his wounds and the other victims were taken to hospitals, Smith said.
—Clarence Williams, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Officers arrived at the scene to find a man suffering from a gunshot wound, court records stated.
—Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
Roberts died on March 6, 2020, from a gunshot wound, and his death was a homicide, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2024
The iceman also had a head injury, possibly sustained at the same time, and his right hand shows a defensive wound.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024
Police identified her on Tuesday afternoon as Danielle Johnson, 34.
MORE: Bodycam footage shows Akron police shooting of teen determined to be holding a fake gun
Authorities on Monday found the father dead from apparent stab wounds in an apartment in Woodland Hills.
—Julia Reinstein, ABC News, 9 Apr. 2024
Their child suffered deep puncture wounds, bruising, missed three days of school due to foot pain and was placed on antibiotics, the lawsuit alleged.
—Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024
What were some findings that stood out to you that illustrate these collective wounds for people living in Gaza?
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
Emergency medical services administered one round of Narcan and discovered a gunshot wound in Bartrom’s chest.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2024
Verb
After stabbing Leutner 19 times, Geyser and Weier left Leutner wounded in the woods, where a cyclist eventually found her.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2024
Court documents say gunshots were fired at six others who were not wounded.
—Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 11 Apr. 2024
One person was killed and five people — including two boys — were wounded in a shooting early Wednesday evening in Northeast Washington, police said.
—Clarence Williams, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Lopez said investigators still don’t know whether anyone other than the security guard was wounded by the time police arrived, which would have been more concerning to the officers on the scene, but it can’t be ruled out.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2024
At least seven children between the ages of 12 and 17 were wounded in the shooting near a mall in the downtown area, CNN reported at the time.
—Zenebou Sylla and Sabrina Souza, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza was wounded on Oct. 21, 2021, when a gun being wielded as a prop by Baldwin discharged a live round.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 9 Apr. 2024
Deputies arrived and found Scott wounded in the vehicle.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 8 Apr. 2024
Eighteen members of the battalion were killed and many more were wounded.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wound.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near wound
Cite this Entry
“Wound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wound. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wound
1 of 3 noun1
: an injury involving cutting or breaking of bodily tissue (as by violence, accident, or surgery)
2
: an injury to a person's feelings
wound
2 of 3 verb1
: to hurt by cutting or breaking bodily tissue
the broken glass wounded several people
2
: to hurt the feelings or pride of
his remark wounded her
Medical Definition
wound
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a physical injury to the body consisting of a laceration or breaking of the skin or mucous membrane often with damage to underlying tissue
has a deep festering knife wound across the palm
a gunshot wound
b
: an opening made in the skin or a membrane of the body incidental to a surgical operation or procedure
infection of a surgical wound
2
: a mental or emotional hurt or blow
emotional wounds of childhood
wound
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to cause a wound to or in
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