bloodlust

American  

[bluhd-luhst] / ˈblʌdˌlʌst /

Or blood lust

noun

1. eagerness to engage in violence or bloodshed.

   During the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror, the bloodlust of the mob raged unabated till it achieved a complete upheaval of French society.

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Etymology

Origin of bloodlust

First recorded in 1845–50; blood ( def. ) + lust ( def. )

Example Sentences

On the other hand, football runs deep into those most American of traits: tradition, competition and, yes, some bloodlust too.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

That, plus an absence of “winning is everything” bloodlust, makes him easy to root for.

From Salon • Nov. 4, 2025

“I won't work with anyone that has a bloodlust for these things,” he says.

From National Geographic • Dec. 11, 2023

Pinochet’s own supernatural bloodlust isn’t what it used to be, and immortality itself has lost its appeal: “Why would I want to keep on living,” he asks, “in a country where people hate me?”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 7, 2023

The half-wolf sled dogs became frantic with bloodlust whenever the cat ambled by over head.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong