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bloodthirsty

bloodthirsty

34 6.8
Wanting people to be harmed or killed
  • adjective
  • /ˈblʌdˌθɜrsti/
  • NSFW
: sanguinario
  • During the war, many bloodthirsty leaders made ruthless decisions without remorse.
  • a bloodthirsty savage

We have Aries who represents the destructive, bloodthirsty side of war.

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Examples

  • Acts of revenge became terrible and men became bloodthirsty and cruel.

  • On the Shia side, death squads proved to be as bloodthirsty as their Sunni counterparts.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The only sure way to save herself was to be as bloodthirsty as they were.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • There really was something bloodthirsty in her eyes by now.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • One side is barbarous and horrible and bloodthirsty and wants to eliminate a race of people and the other wants to live in peace.

  • The executioner's song is playing tonight for the bloodthirsty Burne Brothers.

  • I came across a poor wounded Frenchman crying to US English not to leave him, as he was afraid of the bloodthirsty Spaniards.

  • Have you forgotten the reports of brutal, bloodthirsty savages murdering settlers and destroying their homes?

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Although initially described as the "bloodthirsty foe," the Native Americans become the real victims in Hawthorne's Duston narrative.

    Academic text (1998)
  • The bloodthirsty crowd cheered as the gladiators fought to the death.

Synonyms

murderous
vsbloodthirsty
  • NSFW
76 6.4

Very violent and likely to kill

is about eager cruelty and bloodshed rather than mere capability
homicidal
vsbloodthirsty
  • NSFW
56 7.8

A person likely to kill someone

focuses on desire for violence and cruelty rather than only intent to kill
trigger-happy
vsbloodthirsty
  • Offensive
21 8.2

Quick to use force without thinking

shows a broader desire for violence and cruelty rather than impulsive action
bloody-minded
vsbloodthirsty
  • Offensive
1 9.2

Ready to use violence to hurt people

is framed as a general desire rather than specific violent acts
sanguinary
vsbloodthirsty
  • NSFW
1 9.9

Involving a lot of killing and blood

is more about cruel personal desire for violence and bloodshed
sanguineous
vsbloodthirsty
  • NSFW
1 9.9

Involving violent acts that cause blood and death

is focused on a strong personal desire for violence and cruelty

Antonyms

408 1.0

Kind and not strong in action, sound, or touch

324 1.0

Calm and quiet, without noise or trouble

62 3.3

Kind and willing to forgive someone who is suffering or has done wrong

How Bloodthirsty

murderous
  • NSFW
76 6.4
bloodthirsty
  • NSFW
34 6.8
violent
  • Offensive
∞ 2.5
hostile
238 4.6
aggressive
329 3.7
peaceful
166 1.0

Surface Forms

bloodthirsty positive

Morphology

bloodthirsty = blood + thirsty (transparent) = blood + thirsty

A literal metaphorical compound: 'blood' + 'thirsty' = 'thirsting for blood', which learners can derive from the base words.

Etymology

The word bloodthirsty comes from putting blood and thirsty together and comes from the idea 'thirsty for blood', like someone who wants to drink blood. That's why bloodthirsty describes a person or act that shows a strong desire for violence or bloodshed.