ruddy
Ruddy (adjective) means having a healthy reddish color, especially in the face. Example: “The children came in from the cold with ruddy cheeks.”
How to Use Ruddy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving a healthy red-cheeked glow — or, informally in Britain, a way to add emphasis similar to "bloody" but milder.
The intensifier sense is old-fashioned British slang, softer than "bloody."
Word Forms
ruddier comparative, ruddied past tense, ruddies plural, ruddies singular, ruddiest superlative
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The children came in from the cold with _____ cheeks.
Etymology
From Old English rudiġ, related to "rud" (redness) — the mild-swear sense developed later as a polite substitute for "bloody."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for ruddy
See all rhymes for ruddy →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “ruddy” mean?
The word “ruddy” means having a healthy reddish color, especially in the face. In plain terms, having a healthy red-cheeked glow — or, informally in Britain, a way to add emphasis similar to "bloody" but milder.
How do you pronounce “ruddy”?
“Ruddy” is pronounced RUH-dee (/ˈɹʌdi/ in IPA).
How do you use “ruddy” in a sentence?
Here is “ruddy” used in a sentence: “The children came in from the cold with ruddy cheeks.”
What is another word for “ruddy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “ruddy” include bally, bleeding, blimming, bloody and blooming.
What part of speech is “ruddy”?
“Ruddy” is an adjective.
Where does the word “ruddy” come from?
The word “ruddy” comes from Old English. From Old English rudiġ, related to "rud" (redness) — the mild-swear sense developed later as a polite substitute for "bloody.".
How many meanings does “ruddy” have?
“Ruddy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having a healthy reddish color, especially in the face.