Synonyms

bloodletting

American

[bluhd-let-ing] / ˈblʌdˌlɛt ɪŋ /

noun

the act or practice of letting blood by opening a vein; phlebotomy.
bloodshed or slaughter.
bloodbath.
Informal. severe cutbacks or reduction in personnel, appropriations, etc..

The company went through a period of bloodletting in the 1970s.

Other Word Forms

bloodletter noun

Etymology

Origin of bloodletting

First recorded in 1175–1225, bloodletting is from Middle English blod letunge. See blood, let ¹, -ing ¹

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.

For weeks, it looked like nothing would stop Wall Street’s bloodletting of software companies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

A 2020 Royal Commission found Gobbo's double life during a period of intense gang bloodletting in Australia's second-biggest city were "fundamental and appalling breaches" of her obligations as counsel to her clients.

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

Ashes defeats in Australia usually mean sweeping changes to an England regime and the bloodletting will soon begin.

From BBC • Dec. 20, 2025

But the most worrisome development in all this bloodletting is how Kennedy’s antipathy toward vaccines is playing out.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2025

It was a fair accord, and I suspect that if it had been implemented it would indeed have helped to staunch the bloodletting.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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