Definition

Noun: - A desire for bloodshed: An intense, often violent craving or urge to see or cause bloodshed and killing.

Usage

This noun describes a state of mind, not a physical action. It is typically used to characterize a person's or group's motivations, particularly in contexts of extreme violence, war, or brutal entertainment. It often carries a strong negative connotation, implying savagery or a loss of humanity.

Examples

• The tyrant was driven by a terrifying bloodlust that knew no bounds.
• The novel's villain kills not out of necessity, but from pure bloodlust.
• Critics argued that the violent video game could foster a sense of bloodlust in young players.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Psychological Analysis: Used in academic or journalistic contexts to analyze the motivations behind massacres, genocides, or particularly brutal conflicts.
  • Historians debate whether the massacre was a tactical move or an act of sheer bloodlust.

Variants and Related Words

• Bloodthirsty (adj): Having or showing a desire to kill and violence.
  • The bloodthirsty mob demanded vengeance.

Synonyms

• Bloodthirstiness: The quality of being bloodthirsty.
• Sanguinary desire: A formal/literary term for a craving for bloodshed.
• Ferocity: Savage fierceness, which can imply a lust for violence.

Related Idioms & Phrases

• Thirst for blood: A very similar idiom meaning a strong desire to kill or see violence.
  • The propaganda was designed to create a thirst for blood among the populace.

Noun

1. a desire for bloodshed