Word
bloodless
Phoneticsblood·less, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɫədɫəs/
UK/blˈʌdləs/
Definitions
01without violence
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. happening without any fighting, killing, or injuries.
adj. occurring without the shedding of blood or physical violence; often used to describe political transitions.
“The country underwent a bloodless revolution as the old leader stepped down quietly.”
“Historians often marvel at the bloodless coup, noting that the transition of power was achieved through strategic pressure rather than open conflict.”
Synonyms
02lacking emotion
C1 · Advanced Literary
adj. describing someone or something that has no feeling, energy, or warmth.
adj. lacking in spirit, vitality, or human emotion; often used to criticise art or personality.
“The critic described the performance as bloodless and boring.”
“The director's latest film was technically perfect but ultimately bloodless, failing to elicit any real empathy for its characters.”
Antonyms
03pale
C2 · Proficiency Medicine Literary · Technical
adj. looking very pale, as if there is no blood in the skin.
adj. appearing ashen or anaemic; lacking healthy skin colour.
“His face went bloodless when he heard the shocking news.”
“The patient appeared bloodless and exhausted after the long ordeal, his complexion reflecting the severity of his condition.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“With pages to play with, Tremain takes us deep inside their affair but, although this Danni tells all, the scenes remain curiously bloodless: hands and lips and tongues but no fire, no heart.” “Without some felt relation to pleasure and pain, judgments of value and taste become abstract and bloodless.” Etymology
From Middle English blodles, from Old English blōdlēas (“bloodless”). Cognate with Dutch bloedeloos (“bloodless”), German blutlos (“bloodless”), Danish blodløs (“bloodless”), Swedish blodlös (“bloodless”), Icelandic blóðlaus (“bloodless”). By surface analysis, blood + -less.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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