Definition

1. 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

1. scarred by battle