bloodshed

noun

blood·​shed ˈbləd-ˌshed 

1

: the shedding of blood

2

: the taking of life : slaughter

Examples of bloodshed in a Sentence

Years of violence and bloodshed have left much of the country in ruins.

Recent Examples on the Web

As the country reflected on one year since the murder, Slota posted about the urgency to brace for the possibility of more bloodshed — just before his arrest that day. — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026

Best of all, the stylization doesn’t aestheticize the bloodshed but terrifyingly drives home the destructive waste. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Americans across the political spectrum agreed that the bloodshed had been a colossal waste of money and human life. — Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

Playing estranged siblings gave the actresses an opportunity to clash and add tension to the story before the bloodshed began. — William Earl, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bloodshed

• abed
• ahead
• beachhead
• bedspread
• bedstead
• behead
• blackhead
• blockhead
• bowhead
• breastfed
• bridgehead
• broadhead

Kids Definition

bloodshed

noun

blood·​shed -ˌshed 

1

: the shedding of blood

2

: the taking of life : slaughter