bruising

bruising — adjective

IPA/ˈbruː.zɪŋ/
KK[brˈuzɪŋ]IPA/ˈbruː.zɪŋ/
  • bruisingpositive
  • more bruisingcomparative
  • most bruisingsuperlative

1. making a person feel deeply hurt or ashamed, often after a bad loss or rough tre

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

making a person feel deeply hurt or ashamed, often after a bad loss or rough treatment

Example

The bruising defeat left coach Elena silent on the bus home.

collocation: bruising defeat

After the bruising interview, Omar doubted every answer he gave.

Common collocations
  • bruising defeat
  • bruising loss
  • bruising interview
  • bruising comment
  • bruising experience
Synonyms
  • hurtful

    is the broad everyday word and can be milder.

  • humiliating

    stresses shame in front of other people.

  • crushing

    suggests a very strong emotional blow.

  • wounding

    often focuses on injured feelings in a personal way.

Antonyms
  • encouraging

    gives confidence instead of taking it away.

  • kind

    suggests gentle treatment or words.

  • reassuring

    makes someone feel calmer and more certain.

Grammar Patterns

a bruising defeat

a bruising interview

the loss was bruising

the comments felt bruising

Usage Note

Often goes with defeat, loss, interview, remark, or treatment that damages confidence. Distinguish from adjective/2, which stresses how severe or demanding something is rather than hurt pride or feelings.

Common Mistakes

The walk was bruising, so my legs ached all night.
The walk was bruising, so I felt worn out all night.
adjective/1 is about emotional hurt; physical strain belongs to adjective/2.
His arm looked bruising after the fall.
His arm looked bruised after the fall.
use bruised for a body part showing marks.

2. so intense or demanding that it leaves people tired, sore, or worn out

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

so intense or demanding that it leaves people tired, sore, or worn out

Example

The team faced a bruising schedule with four away games in six days.

collocation: bruising schedule

Climbing the wet hill in boots was a bruising test.

common with hard physical effort

Common collocations
  • bruising schedule
  • bruising campaign
  • bruising climb
  • bruising pace
  • bruising fight
Synonyms
  • grueling

    usually stresses long physical effort or extreme tiredness.

  • punishing

    emphasizes severe strain or repeated hard pressure.

  • taxing

    focuses on the effort demanded from the body or mind.

  • intense

    is broader and does not always suggest exhaustion.

Antonyms
  • easy

    does not require much effort.

  • gentle

    suggests a mild effect on the body or mind.

  • manageable

    can be handled without serious strain.

Grammar Patterns

a bruising schedule

a bruising campaign

a bruising climb

the training was bruising

Usage Note

Common with campaign, fight, week, pace, climb, or schedule. It often suggests something leaves people drained or sore, not literally covered in bruises. Distinguish from adjective/1, which centers on emotional hurt.

Common Mistakes

The bruising remark made Yara cry at dinner.
The hurtful remark made Yara cry at dinner.
adjective/2 is about severity or strain, not wounded feelings.
The walk was bruising, so my skin turned purple.
The walk was bruising, so my legs felt heavy.
adjective/2 does not mean it caused actual bruise marks.

bruising — noun

IPA/ˈbruːzɪŋ/
KK[brˈuzɪŋ]IPA/ˈbruːzɪŋ/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

For adjective/2, bruising describes something so hard or forceful that it leaves a strong effect on the body, energy, or confidence. Grueling is often used for long physical effort or exhausting work. Punishing usually suggests repeated strain or very severe conditions, such as a punishing schedule. Taxing focuses on the effort something demands from the mind or body. Harsh is wider: it can describe weather, rules, words, or treatment, but it does not always imply tiredness. A bruising campaign can be both harsh and punishing, while a bruising climb is closer to grueling. Think: a bruising debate, a punishing week, a taxing exam, a harsh remark.

bruising ↗grueling ↗punishing ↗taxing ↗harsh ↗

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Bruising is built from bruise and the ending -ing. Bruise came into English through French from a verb meaning to break or crush, which fits the idea of marks left by a blow and, later, experiences that leave a strong emotional or physical effect.