bruise
verb (used with object)
to injure by striking or pressing, without breaking the skin.
bruised
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past participleof bruise.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof bruise.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
bruiseverb (used with object)to injure by striking or pressing, without breaking the skin.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Legislators advanced bills, backed by California’s powerful trial lawyer trade group, aimed at policing the state’s legal industry, which has been bruised by ‘a wave of inappropriate attorney conduct’ highlighted by The Times.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
Reiner pointed to “a variety of physical ailments” that are “easy to see,” including bruised hands, swollen legs and an inability to stay awake.
From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2026
The former world number four has only played 14 matches in the past 12 months, largely because of the bruised humerus which he has tried to overcome by resting for long periods.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Even activist heavyweight Elliott Investment Management was bruised there in 2015, when it failed to block a merger inside the vast Samsung group.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
Massaging his bruised ribs, he squinted resentfully into the glare of a torch.
From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
