blood-letting

British

/ ˈblʌdˌlɛtɪŋ /

noun

the therapeutic removal of blood, as in relieving congestive heart failure See also phlebotomy
bloodshed, esp in a blood feud

"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

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.

And don’t be surprised if they decide to bring back blood-letting and leeches.

From Salon • Feb. 19, 2026

Now, the scientists have recommended two types of treatments: cholesterol-lowering tablets, and blood-letting - a treatment where blood is gradually withdrawn from a vein, allowing the body to naturally replenish it.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2025

Yet even amidst the blood-letting, there was some unexpected stability from stablecoins, which are pegged to the value of mainstream assets such as the U.S. dollar in an effort to reduce tame crypto volatility.

From Reuters • Nov. 15, 2022

The first solid hint that this might not be the usual early-round blood-letting of a top player over a hopeful was in Raonic’s service game at 1-2 of the first set.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2019

Poisonous substances, blood-letting, or processes of cure that act pathologically, cannot be used by us.

From The American Reformed Cattle Doctor by Dadd, George

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023