to bruise
28
4.2
- verb
- /bruːz/
- Informal
- Sounds like he had his ego bruised and decided to go on a little power trip.
- bruise someone's feelings
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Watch on YouTubeWhen the Democrats win, their little egos might be bruised, but the majority of people do better, particularly marginalized people.
- When the Democrats win, their little egos might be bruised, but the majority of people do better, particularly marginalized people.
- That's the woman that creates confrontation, bruises his ego and makes him feel like he doesn't want to take any chances with her again.
Examples
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Anyway, it was my ego that was bruised, not my face.
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Yeah, your ego might get bruised a little bit, but the outcome could be amazing.
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I think Andrea's going to come to work Monday morning a little bruised.
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Yet his outburst deserves careful attention, for it reflects the bruised feelings of an older generation of Catholic leaders.
Academic text (2005) -
Trey suspected they had argued after he left the supper table and that the bruised feelings had lingered all night.
Fiction book (1997) -
His harsh words really bruised her feelings during the meeting.
-
She apologized for the comment that bruised his pride.
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Criticism can easily bruise someone's ego if not delivered carefully.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Make someone suffer physical or emotional pain
420
2.1
To say or do something rude to someone
283
2.8
Cause a person to feel hurt, upset and angry because of your words or actions
26
4.2
To say rude or insulting words to someone to hurt them
10
5.7
To hurt a person's feelings deeply
9
4.9
To deliberately hurt or annoy someone to upset them
4
5.5
To make someone feel embarrassed and less confident
2
7.6
To deeply hurt someone's feelings
Antonyms
How Hurtful
Surface Forms
Etymology
A helpful way to remember the emotional use of bruise is this: it comes from the old word brusan meaning 'to crush', so an unkind word can 'crush' someone's pride and leave a 'bruise' on their feelings.