sanguinary

[sang-gwuh-ner-ee] /ˈsæŋ gwəˌnɛr i/

adjective

full of or characterized by bloodshed; bloody:

a sanguinary struggle.

ready or eager to shed blood; bloodthirsty.

composed of or marked with blood.

Origin

1540-50; < Latin sanguinārius bloody. See sanguine, -ary

Related forms

sanguinarily, adverb

sanguinariness, noun

unsanguinarily, adverb

unsanguinariness, noun

unsanguinary, adjective

Can be confused

sanguinary, sanguine.

Synonyms

2. murderous, cruel, savage.

Antonyms

2. kind.

Examples from the web for sanguinary

The next flag attracted much attention from the fact that it was surrounded by revolutionary and sanguinary memories.
They have fought splendidly on many a sanguinary field, and bring home no ordinary share of military distinction.

British Dictionary definitions for sanguinary

sanguinary

/ˈsæŋɡwɪnərɪ/

adjective

accompanied by much bloodshed

bloodthirsty

consisting of, flowing, or stained with blood

Derived Forms

sanguinarily, adverb
sanguinariness, noun

Word Origin

C17: from Latin sanguinārius

Word Origin and History for sanguinary

adj.

"characterized by slaughter," 1620s, possibly from French sanguinaire, or directly from Latin sanguinarius "pertaining to blood," from sanguis (genitive sanguinis) "blood," of unknown origin. Latin distinguished sanguis, the generic word, from cruor "blood from a wound." The latter word is related to Greek kreas "meat," Sanskrit kravis- "raw flesh," Old English hreaw- "raw" (see raw).