Does a character suffer an injury that results in them breaking a bone? Do you want to know how to describe broken bones in writing? Scroll down to find out!
1. Sore
Definition
Something that causes lots of discomfort and pain.
Examples
“Her bones were sore, and she couldn’t lean on them at all. She prayed they’d heal soon.”
“His broken arm was sore, and he knew the bones were still broken.”
How it Adds Description
“Sore” can be used to inform the reader that the broken bones are still healing and causing the character pain. If a character describes their injury as “sore,” it shows the other characters they’re not feeling their best. This might mean they have to sit out of any adventures or active plot points in the story.
2. Useless
Definition
Someone that can’t be used.
Examples
“His broken bones were useless. He felt like a dead weight when his teammates did errands for him.”
“She wished she could sprint through the fields, but her useless broken bones anchored her to her bed.”
How it Adds Description
If a character deems their broken bones “useless,” they might be feeling frustrated by their injury because it inhibits them from taking any action. Another character might call an injured character’s broken bones “useless” if they’re resentful because they have to cater to their needs.
3. Shattered
Definition
Something that’s broken into lots of small pieces.
Examples
“His shattered bones left him stuck in a hospital bed for weeks.”
“She tried to walk, but her shattered bones sent shooting pains throughout her body.”
How it Adds Description
“Shattered” hints that the broken bones are completely smashed into small pieces. This further emphasizes the extent of the injury and also implies that the bones are extremely painful. A character with “shattered” bones might be crying for help or in desperate need of medical care.
4. Terrible
Definition
Something that’s extremely unpleasant or serious.
Examples
“The terrible broken bones needed an instant fix, or the boy would be in serious trouble.”
“Her broken bones were terrible to look at, and they were like something from a bad horror film.”
How it Adds Description
If you want to show how awful and serious the injury is, “terrible” can highlight the severity of the incident. If a character describes broken bones as “terrible,” it could signal their shock at the situation and their worry for the health of the injured character. “Terrible” could also suggest that the injury is the worst they’ve ever seen.
5. Fractured
Definition
Something that’s torn or broken.
Examples
“Her fractured bones were placed into a cast for at least six weeks.”
“Luckily, his fractured bones started healing well. His doctor even said he’d be out of the plaster a week early.”
How it Adds Description
“Fractured” is a medical term used to describe broken bones, and this can be helpful if your character is at the hospital or being diagnosed. If a doctor calls the injury a “fracture,” it proves the injury is real to other characters and the reader. An intelligent character might refer to broken bones as a “fracture” due to their medical knowledge.
6. Disgusting
Definition
Something that’s extremely unpleasant and unacceptable.
Examples
“She couldn’t bear to look at the disgusting broken bones. Their odd shape made her stomach churn.”
“The disgusting broken bones stopped him in his tracks. He’d never seen anything so vile in his life.”
How it Adds Description
Broken bones can be very horrible to look at, especially if the injury is deformed or breaks through the skin. “Disgusting” shows your characters are repulsed by the sight, and this could lead to some being physically sick. If a character has suffered from “disgusting” broken bones, they’re likely in extreme pain and could pass out.
7. Crushed
Definition
Something that’s destroyed until it’s out of shape and unrecognizable.
Examples
“Doctors warned her that her crushed bones would never be the same again.”
“The concrete block left his broken bones crushed. Sadly, he’d never recover from his injuries.”
How it Adds Description
“Crushed” indicates that the broken bones have been transformed into small pieces, and this is usually past the point of repair. “Crushed” is a great adjective for giving your readers a strong visual of the broken bones, but it also indicates that the character might not recover. If a character experiences “crushed” broken bones, they’ll likely be very frightened and worried.
8. Burdensome
Definition
Something that’s hard to deal with or worrying.
Examples
“He kept marching despite the burdensome broken bones. He couldn’t let his captain down.”
“Her daughter’s burdensome broken bones kept the mother up at night. She was worried about her pain and whether she’d recover.”
How it Adds Description
“Burdensome” indicates that the broken bones have a mental effect as well as a physical impact on the character. If a character describes broken bones as “burdensome,” they might be worrying about the bones constantly and could even become even more ill from this mental stress.
9. Unnatural
Definition
Something unexpected that’s strange or frightening.
Examples
“His unnatural broken bones creaked whenever he walked, making children scared as he walked by.”
“The broken bones were utterly unnatural, and the specialist was excited to start studying them.”
How it Adds Description
“Unnatural” emphasizes the strange qualities of the broken bones, and this could highlight that the characters have never seen an injury like them before. If a character suffers from “unnatural” broken bones, they might be embarrassed by their unusual ailment as it may draw lots of unwanted attention.
10. Unsightly
Definition
Something that’s horrible or unattractive to look at.
Examples
“He glimpsed the unsightly broken bones, and the blood drained from his face. He was as white as a sheet.”
“She quickly walked past the accident — she didn’t want to accidentally see any unsightly broken bones.”
How it Adds Description
“Unsightly” hints that the broken bones are unpleasant to look at, which further implies the injury is bad enough to be seen from outside the body. If a character describes broken bones as “unsightly,” they might be squeamish and very uncomfortable around blood or wounds in general.