bloodletting
noun
blood·let·ting
ˈbləd-ˌle-tiŋ 
1
2
3
: elimination of personnel or resources
4
: severe criticism
Take the English, the undisputed champions at verbal bloodletting.—
Bill Ott
: a harsh verbal or written attack
Bill OttBut what makes "Cinderella & Company" more than just a book-length bloodletting is Hoelterhoff's unexpected sympathy for most of the singers about whom she writes.—Terry Teachout
Terry TeachoutExamples of bloodletting in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Widespread violence between the Druze minority and Bedouin tribes in southern Syria erupted on July 13 and has left hundreds dead in the latest explosion of sectarian bloodletting since the authoritarian rule of Bashar al-Assad was toppled by a coalition of Islamist rebels.
—Sarah Dewberry, CNN Money, 22 July 2025
But the guns kept coming — and the bloodletting and mayhem grew.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
To cement truth and reconciliation, the Security Council will have to guarantee mass amnesty, or, should the stakeholders agree, the International Criminal Court will need to start indicting perpetrators of war crimes from all factions in a bid to deter further bloodletting.
—Ali Khedery, Foreign Affairs, 22 Sep. 2015
The latest sequel introduces newcomers like Madelyn Cline and Chase Sui Wonders, but brings back franchise veterans Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt for more on-screen bloodletting.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bloodletting
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Sarah Dewberry, CNN Money, 22 July 2025
But the guns kept coming — and the bloodletting and mayhem grew.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
To cement truth and reconciliation, the Security Council will have to guarantee mass amnesty, or, should the stakeholders agree, the International Criminal Court will need to start indicting perpetrators of war crimes from all factions in a bid to deter further bloodletting.
—Ali Khedery, Foreign Affairs, 22 Sep. 2015
The latest sequel introduces newcomers like Madelyn Cline and Chase Sui Wonders, but brings back franchise veterans Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt for more on-screen bloodletting.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bloodletting
Cite this Entry
“Bloodletting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bloodletting. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bloodletting
noun
blood·let·ting
ˈbləd-ˌlet-iŋ
1
: the opening of a vein for the purpose of drawing blood
Medical Definition
bloodletting
noun
blood·let·ting
-ˌlet-iŋ
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