bloodthirsty

American  

[bluhd-thur-stee] / ˈblʌdˌθɜr sti /

adjective

1. eager to shed blood; murderous.

   to capture a bloodthirsty criminal.

   Synonyms:

   pitiless, merciless, bloody, brutal, savage, homicidal

2. enjoying or encouraging bloodshed or violence, especially as a spectator or clamorous partisan.

   the bloodthirsty urgings of the fight fans.

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bloodthirsty British  

/ ˈblʌdˌθɜːstɪ /

adjective

1. murderous; cruel

2. taking pleasure in bloodshed or violence

3. describing or depicting killing and violence; gruesome

   a bloodthirsty film

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Other Word Forms

• bloodthirstily adverb
• bloodthirstiness noun

Etymology

Origin of bloodthirsty

First recorded in 1525–35; blood + thirsty

Example Sentences

A bloodthirsty mosquito whined in my ear, and I had to slap it away for more than half an hour till the tro-tro ground to a halt again.

From Literature

I did not want to imagine what would happen if her true identity were discovered by these bloodthirsty conspirators.

From Literature

However, the Minotaur was a bloodthirsty monster that was half man, half bull, not a mild-mannered Hereford cow with droopy ears and a bell tied ’round its neck.

From Literature

Children ages 5-8 will need to look elsewhere to read about bloodthirsty old favorites such as the T. rex.

From The Wall Street Journal

Taylor ferrets out the secret with her bloodthirsty relentlessness and immediately raises pandemonium.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• homicidal
• ruthless