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Synonyms

bleeding

American  
[blee-ding] / ˈbli dɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act, fact, or process of losing blood or having blood flow.

  2. the act or process of drawing blood from a person, especially surgically; bloodletting.

  3. the extension of color beyond an edge or border, especially so as to combine with a contiguous color or to affect an adjacent area.


adjective

  1. sending forth blood.

    a bleeding sore.

  2. feeling, expressing, or characterized by extreme or excessive anguish and compassion.

  3. British Slang. (used as an intensifier).

    bleeding fool.

adverb

  1. British Slang. (used as an intensifier).

    a bleeding silly idea.

bleeding British  
/ ˈbliːdɪŋ /

adjective

  1. (intensifier)

    a bleeding fool

    it's bleeding beautiful

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • nonbleeding adjective
  • unbleeding adjective

Etymology

Origin of bleeding

1175–1225; Middle English (noun and adj.); see bleed, -ing 1, -ing 2

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.

Clearing the uterus is standard care to stop hemorrhaging; misoprostol would only make the bleeding worse, they said.

From Salon • Apr. 20, 2026

But the deregulation they won did little to stanch the bleeding.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

The common thread is that malignant cells overtake the marrow—the tissue that produces white blood cells to fight infection, red blood cells to carry oxygen, and platelets to prevent bleeding.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

The drugs targeted rapidly dividing cancer cells in the marrow, but in doing so further damaged an already compromised blood- and immune-making system, often leaving patients defenseless against infection and bleeding.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

Dirty, bruised, and bleeding, we two fools started laughing.

From "Worth" by A. LaFaye