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bloodshed

bloodsheds

Use the word bloodshed to mean people being killed or wounded, especially during a war. A strong dislike of bloodshed might keep a person from joining the military.

You can use the noun bloodshed to talk about any kind of violence: "My mom never let me play those video games when I was growing up, because of all the bloodshed." It's most commonly used to refer to the major side effect of war, the death and injury of many humans. Bloodshed dates from the 1500s, meaning "the shedding of one's blood" or "slaughter."

Definitions of bloodshed
  1. noun
    the shedding of blood resulting in murder
    “he avenged the bloodshed of his kinsmen”
    synonyms: gore
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    type of:
    execution, murder, slaying
    unlawful premeditated killing of a human being by a human being
  2. noun
    indiscriminate slaughter
    “the valley is no stranger to bloodshed and murder”
    synonyms: battue, bloodbath, bloodletting
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    type of:
    butchery, carnage, mass murder, massacre, slaughter
    the savage and excessive killing of many people
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘bloodshed'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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