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.
That’s some shaky ground on which to repair bruised friendships.
From Slate ● Oct. 8, 2026
U.S. junk bonds are getting badly bruised in September, with their high yields so far failing to provide enough cushion this month to withstand heightened market volatility without losses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
For his part, the unnamed 17-year-old said in a since-deleted social media post that he suffered six fractured vertebrae and a badly bruised tailbone and needed nine stitches in his foot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 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
And then, all of a sudden, I noticed that his right hand was bruised.
From "A Very Large Expanse of Sea" by Tahereh Mafi
