bruising

Describes a situation or experience that is emotionally or physically damaging, or literally causing bruises.

• 🇫🇷Qualifie une situation ou une expérience qui cause un préjudice émotionnel ou physique, ou qui provoque littéralement des ecchymoses.

1. Physically damaging B2 formal

   Causing bruises or physical injury.

   • The rugby match was a bruising encounter.
   • He suffered a bruising fall from his bike.
   • The boxer's bruising punches left his opponent battered.

   🇫🇷Contusionnant

   Synonymes: damagingharmfulhurtfulinjuriouswounding

   Antonymes: healingprotectivesoothing

2. Emotionally or psychologically harsh B2 informal

   Causing emotional pain, stress, or damage to one's confidence.

   • The election campaign was a bruising experience for all candidates.
   • She went through a bruising divorce.
   • The criticism was so bruising that he stopped writing.

   🇫🇷blessant moralement

   Synonymes: cruelcuttingdemeaningdevastatingharshhumiliatinghurtfulsavageshatteringwounding

   Antonymes: comfortingencouraginggentlekindreassuringsoothingsupportiveuplifting

• more bruising comparative form
• most bruising superlative form

indénombrable

A noun referring to the condition or marks on the skin caused by an injury that breaks blood vessels, or figuratively, the damaging or harsh treatment of someone or something.

• 🇫🇷Nom désignant l'état ou les marques sur la peau causés par une blessure qui endommage les vaisseaux sanguins, ou, au sens figuré, un dommage ou un traitement brutal infligé à quelqu'un ou à quelque chose.

1. Physical injury B1 formal medical

   An injury that causes a bruise or discoloration on the skin due to broken blood vessels.

   • The doctor examined the bruising on his arm after the accident.
   • She had extensive bruising from the fall.
   • Bruising can take several days to heal completely.

   🇫🇷ecchymose

   Synonymes: contusionecchymosis

2. Emotional or psychological impact B2 informal

   The effect of harsh criticism or difficult experiences that leaves emotional scars.

   • The bruising from the argument lasted for weeks.
   • He suffered emotional bruising after the breakup.
   • The bruising of public criticism affected her confidence.

   🇫🇷blessure psychologique

   Synonymes: afflictiondamagedistresshurtinjurytraumawounding

   Antonymes: comfortencouragementhealingreassurancesolace

• bruisings plural form
• bruisings' possessive plural form
• bruising's possessive singular form

A verb used to indicate the act of causing a bruise on skin or fruit, or becoming bruised.

• 🇫🇷Verbe désignant l'action de meurtrir ou de se meurtrir, c'est-à-dire provoquer une contusion sur la peau ou sur un fruit, ou devenir marqué par une contusion.

1. Cause a bruise B1 formal medical

   To cause a bruise on the skin or flesh, typically by a blow or impact.

   • He bruised his arm when he fell off the bike.
   • The heavy box bruised her leg as she carried it.
   • Be careful not to bruise the fruit when packing it.

   🇫🇷Meurtrir (provoquer une ecchymose)

   Synonymes: blackencontusediscolormark

2. Become bruised B1 formal medical

   To develop a bruise on the skin or flesh.

   • Her skin bruises easily.
   • The apple bruised after being dropped.
   • His ego bruised after the harsh criticism.

   🇫🇷Se couvrir d'ecchymoses

   Synonymes: blackendiscolor

3. Damage or spoil B2 informal

   To damage or spoil the appearance or quality of something.

   • The constant criticism bruised his confidence.
   • The scandal bruised the company's reputation.
   • The rough handling bruised the delicate flowers.

   🇫🇷Meurtrir, abîmer

   Synonymes: blemishdamagedisfigureimpairmarspoiltarnish

• bruised past participle
• bruised past simple
• bruising present participle
• bruises third person singular