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bloodbath

bloodbath

45 7.0
A violent event in which many people are killed or a situation with very large losses
  • noun
  • /ˈblʌdˌbæθ/
  • NSFW
translation icon : baño de sangre
  • Historical accounts describe the event as a bloodbath, where many were brutally killed without mercy.

Trump of saying there will be a bloodbath if he loses the next election.

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Examples

  • After the announcement of the election results, there was a bloodbath in the streets as riots broke out.

  • The war led to a terrible bloodbath that claimed countless innocent lives.

  • After seeing the bloodbath on television, he wanted to show them how it should be done.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • We think the stage is set for a major bloodbath.

  • This bloodbath will have consequences.

  • The bloodbath that followed had left the parties deeply divided, each wary of the other.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • India and Pakistan were born as independent states amidst a bloodbath of appalling proportions.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The September 1980 coup came amid a bloodbath in the streets, as the political feud became a sectarian, ethnic civil war.

    Academic text (2000)
  • The attack, occurring about 10 p.m., caused pandemonium and a virtual bloodbath at Koffee at 104 Audubon St.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

massacre
vsbloodbath
  • Offensive
198 7.0

The violent killing of many people in a cruel way

refers to the overall scene where many are killed rather than a single act
bloodshed
vsbloodbath
  • NSFW
107 4.6

Killing or hurting many people in war and other violence

focuses on indiscriminate killing rather than wounding or general conflict
slaughter
vsbloodbath
  • NSFW
80 5.7

Violent killing of a large number of people

refers to a wider scene where many are killed rather than only the act
carnage
vsbloodbath
  • NSFW
65 8.2

A mass killing of people, often during war or attacks

highlights killings that are violent and specifically indiscriminate
mass murder
vsbloodbath
  • NSFW
38 6.7

Killing many people on purpose at the same time or in a short time

is about many killed violently without focus on deliberate planning
bloodletting
vsbloodbath
  • NSFW
6 9.3

A large-scale killing of people during war or political violence

is similar but applies to violent situations beyond political motives
butchery
vsbloodbath
  • NSFW
1 8.1

The very violent killing of many people

is the same mass killing idea but less focused on cruel imagery
tragic massacre
vsbloodbath
  • NSFW
8.3

A violent event where many people are killed and people feel deep sorrow

is the same violent event described without emphasising deep sorrow
battue
vsbloodbath
  • Offensive
9.9

A killing of many people at once that is cruel

is about many killed violently without implying organisation or system
pure carnage
vsbloodbath
  • NSFW
8.6

A situation with very strong violence causing much damage and many deaths

emphasises many killed in an indiscriminate way rather than property damage

Antonyms

1.0

A place or condition that protects you from danger

646 1.0

A time when countries or groups do not fight

Compounds

financial bloodbath
  • Literature
7.5

A time when many people or companies lose a lot of money in markets

How Deadly

genocide
  • Offensive
147 7.7
massacre
  • Offensive
198 7.0
bloodbath
  • NSFW
45 7.0
clash
105 3.2
skirmish
22 6.4

Surface Forms

bloodbath singular
bloodbaths plural

Morphology

bloodbath = blood + bath (semi-transparent) = blood + bath

The components 'blood' and 'bath' are clear, but the compound is metaphorical (a large-scale killing) rather than a literal bath.

Etymology

Bloodbath comes from the two clear parts blood and bath, where 'bath' means 'a place to wash', so you can imagine a bath filled with blood. That's why bloodbath now means a violent event where many people are killed.