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bloodshed

bloodshed

107 4.6
Killing or hurting many people in war and other violence
  • noun
  • /ˈblʌdˌʃɛd/
  • NSFW
translation icon : derramamiento de sangre
  • The civil war resulted in unprecedented bloodshed across the region.
  • stop the bloodshed
  • prevent bloodshed
  • avoid bloodshed

And people live in violence and bloodshed for years, you know?

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Examples

  • The government called for a ceasefire to prevent further bloodshed among its citizens.

  • In 1971, my homeland was confronted with a war, bloodshed, and a tremendous amount of misery.

    Academic text (1997)
  • We said "no bloodshed until we're sure!"

  • Even better than a victory was a victory won with no bloodshed on either side.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • I just wanted to stop the bloodshed.

  • But it was one way to have an agreement without bloodshed.

  • Israel Palestine has had a long, complicated history of war, conflict and bloodshed going back decades.

  • After a generation of freedom, we're now staring at a generation of bloodshed and misery.

  • In spite of all the stains, pain, and bloodshed, the world will be a better place.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Central America is sliding back into the chaos and bloodshed that engulfed it during the 1980s.

    Academic text (2001)

Synonyms

massacre
vsbloodshed
  • Offensive
198 7.0

The violent killing of many people in a cruel way

is used more generally for killing or wounding in conflicts
carnage
vsbloodshed
  • NSFW
65 8.2

A mass killing of people, often during war or attacks

includes not just killing but also wounding in conflict situations
bloodbath
vsbloodshed
  • NSFW
45 7.0

A violent event in which many people are killed or a situation with very large losses

focuses more broadly on killing or wounding, often in war
mass murder
vsbloodshed
  • NSFW
38 6.7

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

is broader, covering killing or wounding over time in conflicts
bloodletting
vsbloodshed
  • NSFW
6 9.3

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

applies to killing or wounding especially during war or armed conflict
butchery
vsbloodshed
  • NSFW
1 8.1

The very violent killing of many people

often covers killing or wounding in conflict without the savage emphasis
battue
vsbloodshed
  • Offensive
9.9

A killing of many people at once that is cruel

is the more general term for killing or wounding in conflict

Antonyms

1.0

A calm, quiet feeling in your mind without worry

114 5.3

A return to friendly relations after a disagreement

How Deadly

genocide
  • Offensive
147 7.7
massacre
  • Offensive
198 7.0
bloodshed
  • NSFW
107 4.6
violence
  • Offensive
2.8
clash
105 3.2
scuffle
25 3.7

Surface Forms

bloodshed singular
bloodsheds plural

Morphology

bloodshed = blood + shed (transparent) = blood + shed

The meaning is directly the result of 'blood' + the verb 'shed' (i.e., shedding of blood), so learners can derive it from the components.

Etymology

Bloodshed is made of blood and shed, where shed meant 'to let fall', like 'shed tears'. So bloodshed literally means blood being let fall, which is why it now means the killing or wounding of people that makes them bleed.