bruising

noun
UK: /ˈbruːzɪŋ/
US: /ˈbruːzɪŋ/

  1. An injury where the skin turns purple or blue after a hit.

    1. The bruising on his arm was quite painful after the fall.
    2. The doctor examined the bruising to determine the severity of the impact.

Synonyms

contusion harmful ecchymosis tough welt difficult damaging
bruising verb

  1. Present participle of bruise: to cause a bruise.

    1. He was bruising easily, so the doctor ordered blood tests.
    2. The rough tackle left him bruising along his ribs, making it difficult to breathe.

  2. To injure (someone or something) so as to cause discoloration of the skin.

    1. She is bruising the apples when she packs them too tightly.
    2. Constant criticism can be bruising to a person's self-esteem, affecting confidence.
bruising adjective

  1. Describing a fight or competition that is tough and causes damage.

    1. It was a bruising match, with many injuries.
    2. The bruising election campaign left both candidates exhausted and demoralized.

  2. Describes an experience or situation that is emotionally damaging or hurtful.

    1. The bruising encounter left her feeling humiliated.
    2. Dealing with bureaucracy can be a bruising experience for small business owners.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "bruising" is /ˈbruːzɪŋ/ in British English and /ˈbruːzɪŋ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "bruising": contusion, harmful, ecchymosis, tough, welt, difficult, damaging.

Example usage of "bruising": "The bruising on his arm was quite painful after the fall.". More examples on the page.