bloodless

/ˈblʌdləs/ (bre, ipa) · [blˈʌdləs] /ˈblʌdləs/ (ame, ipa) · [blˈʌdləs] /ˈbləd-ləs How to pronounce bloodless (audio)/ (ame, mw)

bloodless — 形容詞

  • bloodlesspositive
  • more bloodlesscomparative
  • most bloodlesssuperlative

1. describing a battle, takeover, or revolution in which nobody is killed or seriou

1.形容詞C1
釋義

不流血的

未造成傷亡的政變、革命或接管

describing a battle, takeover, or revolution in which nobody is killed or seriously injured

例句

The 1989 Velvet Revolution is remembered as a largely bloodless transfer of power in Czechoslovakia.

一九八九年的天鵝絨革命被認為是捷克斯洛伐克幾乎不流血的政權轉移。

collocation: bloodless transfer of power

Henrik described the takeover of the radio station as quick, professional, and entirely bloodless.

Henrik 形容那場電台接管行動既迅速、專業，又完全不流血。

同義詞
  • non-violent

    broader; covers any peaceful action, not only military or political

  • peaceful

    everyday word; 'bloodless' is more specifically about no deaths in a takeover

反義詞
  • bloody

    of a battle or event involving heavy loss of life

  • violent

    general antonym; involving force or harm

用法筆記

Almost always modifies a noun for an organised political event — coup, revolution, takeover, transfer, victory. Rarely used of small-scale fights or personal disputes.

常見錯誤

❌Their argument over the rent was bloodless.
✅Their argument over the rent did not turn violent.
💡'bloodless' fits large political events, not everyday disputes.

2. of a face, lips, or hands: so pale that the skin looks drained, usually because

2.形容詞C1
釋義

蒼白無血色的

皮膚因病、冷或驚嚇而毫無血色

of a face, lips, or hands: so pale that the skin looks drained, usually because the person is ill, frightened, or in shock

例句

Anong's lips were almost bloodless after she stepped out of the freezing lake.

Anong 從冰冷的湖裡走出來後，嘴唇幾乎已經沒有血色。

typical body parts: lips / face / cheeks / hands

The nurse noticed that the patient's hands were cold and bloodless on the bedsheet.

護理師注意到病患的雙手在床單上又冷又毫無血色。

同義詞
  • pale

    everyday neutral word; 'bloodless' is stronger and more visual

  • pallid

    literary; suggests unhealthy paleness

  • ashen

    grey-toned pale; suggests shock or grave illness

反義詞
  • ruddy

    of a healthy, reddish skin tone

  • flushed

    pink or red from heat, exercise, or emotion

用法筆記

Subject is almost always a body part visible to others — face, lips, cheeks, hands. Distinguish from sense 1, which never refers to a person's appearance.

常見錯誤

❌After the bad news, Sade felt bloodless and weak.
✅After the bad news, Sade's face turned bloodless and her legs felt weak.
💡'bloodless' describes how the body LOOKS, not how someone feels overall.

3. showing or feeling no warmth, sympathy, or human emotion; coldly detached when w

3.形容詞C2
釋義

冷漠；無情

形容人或態度毫無溫情或同理心

showing or feeling no warmth, sympathy, or human emotion; coldly detached when warmth would be expected

例句

The judge delivered the long sentence in a bloodless voice that chilled the courtroom.

法官用一種冷漠無情的聲音宣讀了那段長刑期，整個法庭都為之一凜。

typical pairing: bloodless voice / tone / smile

Omar found the manager's bloodless reply to the family's loss almost more upsetting than the news itself.

Omar 覺得經理對那家人喪親之痛冷漠的回應，幾乎比那則惡耗本身更令人難過。

同義詞
  • cold

    everyday word for the same idea; 'bloodless' is stronger and more literary

  • unfeeling

    neutral synonym; less vivid

  • callous

    stronger; suggests deliberate cruelty rather than mere detachment

反義詞
  • warm

    showing friendly, caring feeling

  • compassionate

    feeling and showing sympathy for others

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: a bloodless coup involves no deaths, but a bloodless leader feels nothing about the deaths they cause. The criticism is about lack of warmth, not lack of violence.

常見錯誤

❌Eli felt bloodless about losing the match.
✅Eli was strangely unmoved about losing the match.
💡'bloodless' describes how others see your manner, not how you feel inside.

4. of a performance, writing, or speech: technically correct but flat and without e

4.形容詞C2
釋義

平淡無生氣的

技巧無誤卻缺乏感情與張力

of a performance, writing, or speech: technically correct but flat and without energy or feeling

例句

The orchestra played every note correctly, but the conductor described the performance as bloodless.

樂團每個音都奏得正確，但指揮卻形容那場演出平淡無生氣。

typical pairing: bloodless performance / rendition

Élise complained that the new translation of the poem was accurate but completely bloodless.

Élise 抱怨那首詩的新譯本雖然精確，卻完全平淡無生氣。

同義詞
  • lifeless

    near-synonym for this sense; 'bloodless' adds a sense of technical perfection that fails to move

  • flat

    everyday word; less literary

  • uninspired

    suggests lack of creative spark

反義詞
  • lively

    full of energy and feeling

  • vivid

    strong, clear, and full of life

用法筆記

Typically a critic's word. Distinguish from sense 3: sense 3 is about a person being emotionally cold; sense 4 is about a product (book, performance, speech) feeling dull and energyless.

常見錯誤

❌The football game was bloodless.
✅The football game was bloodless and boring to watch.
💡without 'boring', readers may parse this as the WITHOUT KILLING sense rather than the LIFELESS sense.