# bruise vs bruiser

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### bruise
*verb · IPA /bɹuːz/ · frequency rank #22,909*
To strike (a person), originally with something flat or heavy, but now specifically in such a way as to discolour the skin without breaking it; to contuse.

### bruiser
*noun · frequency rank #46,949*
In contact sports, an athlete whose size, strength, and/or aggressiveness make it likely that they will cause athletes on the opposing team to suffer physical punishment.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bruise-vs-bruiser