bloodbath

or blood bath

[ bluhd-bath, -bahth ]

noun

, plural blood·baths [bluhd, -ba, th, z, -bah, th, z, -baths, -bahths].

1. a ruthless slaughter of a great number of people; massacre.
2. Informal. a period of disastrous loss or reversal:

   A few mutual funds performed well in the general bloodbath of the stock market.

3. a widespread dismissal or purge, as of employees.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bloodbath¹

First recorded in 1865–70; blood + bath ¹

Example Sentences

Usually, she adds, such roles also result in a metaphorical bloodbath involving dozens of actors.

From Los Angeles Times

For months before the wage increase, conservative pundits and economists filled the airwaves and newspaper columns with predictions that it would produce an employment bloodbath at fast food restaurants.

From Los Angeles Times

Biden previously warned Americans that Trump “means what he says” with regards to fighting a losing outcome, pointing to the former president’s suggestion that there would be a “bloodbath” should he lose.

From Salon

This led to an electoral bloodbath for Republicans in the 1890 midterm elections, when the party lost 78 House seats and the Democrats won a 236-vote majority.

From Los Angeles Times

She also wrenched out of context Trump’s comment about “a bloodbath” commencing if he loses the election.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• carnage
• purge
• slaughter