bloodbath

IPA/ˈblʌdbɑːθ/
KK[blˈʌdbˌæθ]IPA/ˈblʌdbæθ/

bloodbath — 名詞

1. a violent incident in which a great many people die, for example during a battle

1.名詞B2
釋義

大屠殺

大規模殺戮的暴力事件

a violent incident in which a great many people die, for example during a battle or a raid, with little hope of survival.

例句

Peace talks broke down and the region descended into a bloody bloodbath that killed thousands.

和平會談破裂後，該地區陷入了一場死亡數千人的血腥大屠殺。

collocation: bloody bloodbath

Ramón's documentary shows how the empire's collapse led to a bloodbath across the province.

Ramón 的紀錄片呈現了帝國崩潰如何導致省份陷入大屠殺。

同義詞
  • massacre

    emphasises the deliberate killing of defenceless people; often used for specific historical events

  • slaughter

    focuses on the brutal act of killing; used for both people and animals

  • carnage

    stresses the scene of dead bodies and destruction; slightly more literary

  • butchery

    highlights the cruel and unnecessary nature of the killing; informal and emotive

反義詞
  • peace

    the opposite of extreme violence

  • truce

    a temporary halt to fighting, the opposite of continued killing

文法句型

bloodbath + in/at [location]

end in a bloodbath

用法筆記

This is a very strong word. It describes violence that is one-sided and extreme, not an ordinary battle between equal armies. It is stronger and more emotional than 'bloodshed' or 'slaughter'.

常見錯誤

❌There was a bloodbath at the football game when two fans argued.
✅There was a fight at the football game when two fans argued.
💡'bloodbath' is too extreme for minor violence and sounds unnatural in everyday arguments.
❌The bloodbath between the two armies lasted three days.
✅The battle between the two armies lasted three days.
💡'bloodbath' usually describes one-sided killing, not a fair fight between equal sides.

2. a very difficult situation, especially in business or politics, in which many pe

2.名詞C1
釋義

浩劫

造成重大損失的糟糕局面

a very difficult situation, especially in business or politics, in which many people lose their jobs, positions, or money, or in which a company or organisation suffers severe damage.

例句

The stock market crash was a bloodbath for small investors who lost their life savings.

股市崩盤對散戶投資人而言是一場浩劫，許多人賠光了畢生積蓄。

figurative use: financial context

Nala's company survived the bloodbath of layoffs that cut the workforce in half.

Nala 任職的公司經歷了裁員浩劫，員工總數被砍掉了一半。

bloodbath of [layoffs]

同義詞
  • disaster

    more general; can be used for smaller problems; less emotional

  • catastrophe

    similar strength but broader in scope; can describe natural events too

  • rout

    specifically a decisive defeat in a contest or competition; common in sports and politics

  • meltdown

    informal; suggests sudden and complete failure, especially financial

反義詞
  • triumph

    a great victory or success

  • boom

    a period of rapid growth and success, especially in business

文法句型

bloodbath + for [affected group]

a bloodbath of [job losses / defeats]

用法筆記

This figurative sense is common in news and informal discussion about business, politics, and sports. Do not use it for everyday problems or small losses — it only fits large-scale, severe damage.

常見錯誤

❌I lost my phone, it was a total bloodbath.
✅I lost my phone, it was a total disaster.
💡'bloodbath' is too strong for personal, small-scale problems.
❌The company faced a bloodbath when the printer broke.
✅The company faced a bloodbath when it had to close three factories and fire 2,000 workers.
💡'bloodbath' only works for large-scale, severe losses.