gore
4 synonyms for gore, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Blood, especially clotted or thickened blood from a wound, or graphic depictions of violence.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use gore
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
blood and gore
gored by a bull
gore in a skirt
Etymology
From Old English gor ("dung, filth"), which over time narrowed to mean specifically clotted blood; the unrelated "triangular piece" sense comes from a different old word for a wedge- or spear-shaped bit of land or cloth.
Full origin of gore →Frequently asked questions
What does “gore” mean?
The word “gore” means blood, especially clotted or thickened blood from a wound, or graphic depictions of violence. In plain terms, bloody violence (the common modern sense), or — a totally separate old meaning — a wedge-shaped panel of cloth or land.
How do you pronounce “gore”?
“Gore” is pronounced gaw (/ɡoɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “gore” in a sentence?
Here is “gore” used in a sentence: “The horror film was wall-to-wall gore.”
What part of speech is “gore”?
Depending on how it is used, “gore” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “gore” come from?
The word “gore” comes from Old English.
Is “gore” a common word?
“Gore” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “gore” have?
“Gore” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: blood, especially clotted or thickened blood from a wound, or graphic depictions of violence.
What is the difference between 'gore' and 'blood'?
Blood is the general term for the red fluid in the body, while gore specifically refers to clotted or thickened blood from a wound, or graphic depictions of violence more broadly. Gore carries a stronger, more visceral connotation, often associated with horror films or violent scenes.
What does it mean when an animal 'gores' someone?
As a verb, to gore means to wound someone by piercing them with a horn or tusk, as when a bull gores a matador. This sense describes the act of goring rather than the substance of blood referred to by the noun.
What is a 'gore' in sewing or clothing?
In sewing, a gore is a triangular piece of fabric sewn into a skirt or sail to add width, a completely different sense from the blood-related meaning. This tailoring sense is unrelated to violence and instead describes a shaping technique used to make garments flare out.
