blood-stained
Definition
Adjective: 1. Stained with blood: Describes something that has blood marks or spots on it, often from an injury or violence. - The soldier’s uniform was blood-stained after the battle. (The uniform had blood marks.) 2. Associated with bloodshed or guilt: Figuratively, it can describe something tainted by violent acts or moral wrongdoing. - The dictator’s blood-stained hands symbolized his cruel regime. (His actions were marked by violence and guilt.)
Usage Examples
- (A knife with blood on it.)
- (The shirt had blood marks that were hard to remove.)
- (His reputation was tainted by past violent deeds.)
Advanced Usage
- "blood-stained history": A past marked by violence or conflict.
- The region has a blood-stained history of war and oppression. (The area’s past is full of bloodshed.)
- "blood-stained hands": A metaphor for being guilty of causing death or harm.
- The general’s blood-stained hands were exposed by the investigation. (He was responsible for many deaths.)
Variants and Related Words
- Bloodstain (noun): a mark or spot of blood.
- The police analyzed the bloodstain on the floor. (A mark made by blood.)
- Bloodstained (adj): synonym of blood-stained; both spellings are used interchangeably.
- The bloodstained cloth was evidence. (The cloth had blood marks.)
Synonyms
- Bloodied: covered or stained with blood.
- His bloodied nose showed he had been in a fight. (His nose had blood on it.)
- Crimson-stained: stained with a deep red color resembling blood.
- The crimson-stained bandages indicated a serious wound. (Bandages stained with blood.)
- Gory: involving or showing blood and violence.
- The gory scene was too intense for children. (The scene had a lot of blood.)
Related Idioms
- To have blood on one’s hands: to be responsible for someone’s death or injury.
- The warlord has blood on his hands after years of conflict. (He caused many deaths.)
- To be blood-stained: to be marked by guilt from violence.
- The politician’s career was blood-stained from the scandal. (His actions were tainted by violence or wrongdoing.)