battle-scarred
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Scarred by battle: Describes a person, animal, or object that bears visible marks, such as scars or damage, resulting from direct involvement in combat or fighting.
- Experienced through hardship: Used figuratively to describe a person, group, or thing that has endured significant struggles or conflicts and shows the resulting signs of wear, resilience, or experience.
Usage Examples
- Literal (Physical Scars):
- The battle-scarred veteran had a long scar across his cheek.
- The battle-scarred shield was a museum piece, its surface dented and scratched.
- Figurative (Experiential Scars):
- The battle-scarred activist had spent decades fighting for human rights.
- After the long legal dispute, the company emerged battle-scarred but still solvent.
Advanced Usage
- "battle-scarred and weary": Emphasizes both the physical/experiential marks and a state of exhaustion from prolonged conflict.
- The battalion returned home, battle-scarred and weary.
- Used attributively (before a noun) to modify and characterize: , , .
Variants and Related Words
- Scarred (adj): Marked with a scar or scars.
- War-torn (adj): Describing a place devastated by war.
- Veteran (n): A person who has long experience in a particular field, especially military service.
Synonyms
- War-weary: Tired and affected by war.
- Hardened: Made tough and resilient by experience.
- Seasoned: Experienced through long and varied practice.
Related Phrases
- To bear the scars of (something): To show lasting effects of a difficult experience.
- The region still bears the scars of the civil war.
- Worn by battle: Similar in meaning, emphasizing the effect of wear.
Related Idioms
- Been through the wars: An idiom meaning to have had a lot of difficult or damaging experiences.
- That old truck looks like it's been through the wars. (It looks very battered and worn.)
Adjective
- scarred by battle