bloody

13 synonyms and 1 antonym for bloody, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Covered in or stained with blood.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

fucking damn

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

savage flaming blooming crashing

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

bloodstained gory gruesome sanguinary blood-soaked blinking bally

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Covered in or stained with blood.

“He arrived with a bloody bandage wrapped around his hand.”

bloodstained gory gruesome sanguinary blood-soaked savage blinking bally flaming blooming crashing fucking

Opposites

bloodless

2. adv

(British, informal) Used to add emphasis, often expressing annoyance.

“That's a bloody good idea.”

damn

How to use bloody

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

bloody hell a bloody mess

The intensifier use is informal and mainly British/Australian, mildly coarse.

Etymology

From Old English blodig, formed from "blood" plus the adjective suffix "-y."

Full origin of bloody →

Frequently asked questions

What does “bloody” mean?

The word “bloody” means covered in or stained with blood. In plain terms, covered in blood, or violent; as an intensifier, a mild British swear word for emphasis.

How do you pronounce “bloody”?

“Bloody” is pronounced BLUH-dee (/ˈblʌ.di/ in IPA).

How do you use “bloody” in a sentence?

Here is “bloody” used in a sentence: “He arrived with a bloody bandage wrapped around his hand.”

What part of speech is “bloody”?

Depending on how it is used, “bloody” can be an adjective and an adverb.

Where does the word “bloody” come from?

The word “bloody” comes from Old English. From Old English blodig, formed from "blood" plus the adjective suffix "-y.".

Is “bloody” a common word?

“Bloody” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “bloody” have?

“Bloody” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: covered in or stained with blood.

What is the difference between "bloody" and "gory"?

Both describe scenes involving blood, but "bloody" means covered in or stained with blood, or involving much violence and killing, as in "a bloody battle." "Gory" emphasises graphic, gruesome detail of blood and injury, as in "a gory horror film."

Why do British speakers use "bloody" as an intensifier?

Beyond its literal meaning of covered in blood, "bloody" is widely used in British and Australian English as an informal intensifier, as in "bloody brilliant" or "bloody hell." In this use it simply adds emphasis and is considered mildly rude in some settings, so it is avoided in formal writing.

Is "bloody" used differently in American English?

Yes. In American English "bloody" is mainly used in its literal senses of covered in blood or marked by violence, as in "a bloody nose" or "a bloody conflict." The informal intensifier use is chiefly British, Irish, and Australian.

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fucking damn savage crashing flaming blooming gruesome blinking bally gory bloodless bloodstained

Nearby words

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