Wound — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈwünd/ (noun) /ˈwau̇nd/

Meaning & Definition of Wound

Wound (noun)

  1. an injury to the body (as from violence, accident, or surgery) that typically involves laceration or breaking of a membrane (such as the skin) and usually damage to underlying tissues
  2. a cut or breach in a plant usually due to an external agent
  3. a mental or emotional hurt or blow

Wound (verb)

  1. to cause a wound to or in
  2. to inflict a wound

Wound (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in injury

    similar: injury, abrasion, score, scrape, scratch, crack, fracture, rupture, snag, gash, incision, laceration, rent, rip, slash, slit, tear

Wound (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cause bodily damage to

    "an arrow had wounded the animal, but the vet was able to save it"

    similar: damage, harm, hurt, injure
    related: batter, bloody, blow out, bruise, contuse, cut, gash, gore, lacerate, scald, scar, scathe, strain, tear, crease, graze, nick, cripple, hamstring, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate, abuse, aggrieve, afflict, maltreat, torment, torture, lay up, blemish, impair, mar, scrape, spoil
    near: cure, fix, heal, mend, remedy

  2. to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in

    "that callous comment really wounded me"

    similar: affront, dis (slang), disrespect, insult, offend, outrage, slap, slight
    related: cut, snub, displease, distress, disturb, hurt, miff, pain, trouble, upset, jeer, mock, ridicule, sneer (at), taunt, defame, disparage, libel, malign, revile, slander, slur, smear, oppress, persecute, torment, torture
    near: acclaim, applaud, approve, hail, commend, compliment, eulogize, praise, adulate, flatter, sweet-talk, exalt, glorify, honor, delight, gratify, please, satisfy

Related Entry: Wind (verb)

Wind is a different word from Wound. The synonyms below are for wind, not for wound.

  1. to follow a circular or spiral course

    "flowering vines wind around the porch's graceful columns"

    similar: coil, corkscrew, curl, entwine, spiral, twine, twist
    related: arc, arch, bend, crook, curve, hook, sweep, swerve, turn, veer, wheel, swirl, whirl, circle, encircle, loop, enlace, interlace, intertwine, lace, bow, bulge, meander, weave, zigzag
    near: straighten

  2. to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way

    "self-interest winds itself into everything that he does—even his alleged favors for other people"

    similar: infiltrate, insinuate, slip, sneak, work in, worm, wriggle
    related: creep, edge, wiggle, insert, interpolate, interpose, introduce

Related Entry: Wound down (verb)

Wound down is a different word from Wound. The synonyms below are for wound down, not for wound.

  1. to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety

    "not being one for alcoholic beverages, I prefer to wind down with a cup of tea every night"

    similar: chilled, chilled out (slang), decompressed, de-stressed, loosened up, mellowed (out), relaxed, unwound, hung loose
    related: unbent, basked, kicked back, lolled, lounged, reposed, rested, bummed, dallied, dawdled, dillydallied, droned, footled, goofed (off), hacked (around), hung (around or out), idled, lazed, loafed, vegetated, vegged out, zoned out, alleviated, comforted, eased, relieved, calmed, composed, cooled, quieted, settled
    opposite: tensed (up)

Related Entry: Wound up (verb)

Wound up is a different word from Wound. The synonyms below are for wound up, not for wound.

  1. to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point

    "try to wind up the performance, as we're almost out of time"

    similar: closed, closed out, completed, concluded, ended, finished, rounded (off or out), terminated, wrapped up, put paid to (chiefly British), rang down the curtain (on)
    related: climaxed, crowned, consummated, perfected, halted, stopped, suspended
    opposite: began, commenced, inaugurated, opened, started

  2. to come to an end

    "her speeches usually wind up with one last joke"

    similar: broke off, broke up, ceased, closed, concluded, dead-ended, determined, died, discontinued, elapsed, ended, expired, finished, halted, lapsed, left off, let up, passed, quit, stopped, terminated, went, winked (out), bit the dust
    related: desisted (from), laid off (of), refrained (from), gave over (British), knocked off, packed (up or in), broke down, conked (out), cut out, stalled, paused, stayed, suspended, abated, petered (out), wound down
    opposite: continued, hung on, persisted
    near: drew out, extended, prolonged, protracted

Related Entry: Wind down (verb)

Wind down is a different word from Wound. The synonyms below are for wind down, not for wound.

  1. to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety

    "not being one for alcoholic beverages, I prefer to wind down with a cup of tea every night"

    similar: chill, chill out (slang), de-stress, decompress, loosen up, mellow (out), relax, unwind, hang loose
    related: unbend, bask, kick back, loll, lounge, repose, rest, bum, dally, dawdle, dillydally, drone, footle, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), idle, laze, loaf, vegetate, veg out, zone out, alleviate, comfort, ease, relieve, calm, compose, cool, quiet, settle
    opposite: tense (up)

Related Entry: Wind up (verb)

Wind up is a different word from Wound. The synonyms below are for wind up, not for wound.

  1. to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point

    "try to wind up the performance, as we're almost out of time"

    similar: close, close out, complete, conclude, end, finish, round (off or out), terminate, wrap up, put paid to (chiefly British), ring down the curtain (on)
    related: climax, crown, consummate, perfect, halt, stop, suspend
    opposite: begin, commence, inaugurate, open, start

  2. to come to an end

    "her speeches usually wind up with one last joke"

    similar: break off, break up, cease, close, conclude, dead-end, determine, die, discontinue, elapse, end, expire, finish, go, halt, lapse, leave off, let up, pass, quit, stop, terminate, wink (out), bite the dust
    related: desist (from), lay off (of), refrain (from), give over (British), knock off, pack (up or in), break down, conk (out), cut out, stall, pause, stay, suspend, abate, peter (out), wind down
    opposite: continue, hang on, persist
    near: draw out, extend, prolong, protract

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Wound

The most common words with a similar meaning to Wound:

Slang: dis
injury, abrasion, score, scrape, scratch, crack, fracture, rupture, snag, gash, incision, laceration, rent, rip, slash, slit, tear, damage, harm, hurt, injure, affront, disrespect, insult, offend, outrage, slap, slight

Related Words for Wound

batter, bloody, blow out, bruise, contuse, cut, gore, lacerate, scald, scar, scathe, strain, crease, graze, nick, cripple, hamstring, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate, abuse, aggrieve, afflict, maltreat, torment, torture, lay up, blemish, impair

Near Antonyms of Wound

cure, fix, heal, mend, remedy, acclaim, applaud, approve, hail, commend, compliment, eulogize, praise, adulate, flatter, sweet-talk, exalt, glorify, honor, delight, gratify, please, satisfy

Word Forms of Wound

Inflections: wounded, wounding, wounds

Origin & Etymology of Wound

Middle English, from Old English wund; akin to Old High German wunta wound

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Wound

Words & Phrases Containing Wound

flesh wound, rub salt in/into the wound

Frequently Asked Questions about Wound

What does "Wound" mean?

"Wound" means an injury to the body (as from violence, accident, or surgery) that typically involves laceration or breaking of a membrane (such as the skin) and usually damage to underlying tissues. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: an injury to the body (as from violence, accident, or surgery) that typically involves laceration or breaking of a membrane (such as the skin) and usually damage to underlying tissues. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Wound"?

Other words for "Wound" include injury, abrasion, score, scrape, scratch, crack, fracture and rupture. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Wound" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Wound"?

There are 84 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Wound". Common alternatives include injury, abrasion, score, scrape, scratch, crack, fracture, rupture, snag and gash.

How do you use "Wound" in a sentence?

Examples of "Wound" in a sentence: "an arrow had wounded the animal, but the vet was able to save it"; "that callous comment really wounded me".

Is "Wound" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Wound" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Wound" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Wound" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Wound"?

"Wound" is pronounced /ˈwünd/ as a noun and /ˈwau̇nd/.

What is the origin of the word "Wound"?

"Wound" comes from Middle English, from Old English wund; akin to Old High German wunta wound. First known use: before 12th century.