sanguine
gb/sˈæŋɡwɪn/ us/sˈæŋɡwɪn/
C1
English
~ 8600
bizakodó, pirospozsgás, vérvörös, szangvin, vörös kréta, véres
C1
FORMAL
1
bizakodó
B2
Usage pattern:
to be/feel/remain sanguine about [something]
Despite the recent losses, investors remain sanguine about the company's long‑term prospects.
Az utóbbi veszteségek ellenére a befektetők továbbra is bizakodóak a vállalat hosszú távú kilátásait illetően.
She is surprisingly sanguine about finding a new job in such a weak economy.
Meglepően bizakodó azzal kapcsolatban, hogy ilyen gyenge gazdasági helyzetben is talál új munkát.
The report is far too sanguine about the risks of climate change.
He sounded less sanguine about reaching an agreement before the deadline.
While others panicked, the chair of the board stayed sanguine and urged patience.
Learner examples
My boss is sanguine about our sales this year.
A főnököm bizakodó az idei eladásainkat illetően.
The doctor was sanguine about her chances of recovery.
Az orvos bizakodó volt a felépülési esélyeit illetően.
I am not sanguine about getting a visa so quickly.
They are still sanguine about winning the election.
The team stayed sanguine after the early defeat.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "sanguine" means "calm" or "serious" because of its formal sound. It specifically means "confidently hopeful" or "optimistic," usually about the future. It is also more formal than everyday words like "hopeful" or "positive."
Meaning
confidently hopeful or positive
Collocations
remain sanguine
|sanguine about the future
|overly sanguine
|remarkably sanguine
|a sanguine outlook
|not sanguine about
Synonyms
optimistic (More common and neutral; less formal in tone than "sanguine.")
|
hopeful (Focuses more on having hope than on confident expectation.)
|
bullish (Informal and often used about markets or business confidence.)
|
upbeat (Informal and emotional; suggests cheerful mood as well as optimism.)
Antonyms
pessimistic (Expects bad results instead of good ones.)
|
gloomy (Suggests a sad or negative feeling about the future.)
Themes
emotions
|attitudes
|business
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Feeling sure that things will be good in the future, even when the situation is hard or unclear.
Confidently optimistic or positive about the future, especially in a situation that appears difficult or uncertain.
C2
LITERARY
2
pirospozsgás
C1
Usage pattern:
a sanguine [face/complexion/cheek]
After the long walk in the cold, their faces were bright and sanguine.
A hidegben tett hosszú séta után az arcuk élénken kipirult és pirospozsgás volt.
His sanguine complexion made him look younger than his years.
Pirospozsgás arcbőre fiatalabbnak mutatta a koránál.
The child’s sanguine cheeks glowed in the firelight.
Her normally sanguine face had turned suddenly pale.
The artist emphasized the farmer’s sanguine features to show his robust health.
Learner examples
The baby had round, sanguine cheeks.
A babának kerek, pirospozsgás orcái voltak.
His sanguine face showed that he spent much time outside.
Pirospozsgás arca arról árulkodott, hogy sok időt tölt a szabadban.
Cold air gave her a sanguine color.
In the picture, the man’s face is sanguine and happy.
Exercise can make your cheeks look sanguine.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this physical sense with the more common "optimistic" meaning. When "sanguine" is used with words like "complexion," "cheeks," or "face," it refers to color and health, not mood.
Meaning
having a healthy rosy complexion
Collocations
a sanguine complexion
|sanguine cheeks
|sanguine face
|sanguine glow
Synonyms
rosy (Very common; suggests a soft pink color and good health.)
|
ruddy (Often used for strongly red, weathered faces; slightly old‑fashioned.)
|
flushed (Suggests temporary redness from heat, emotion, or effort rather than general health.)
Antonyms
pale (Describes a face without much color, often suggesting illness or tiredness.)
Themes
appearance
|emotions
|health
|body
Definition
Looking healthy and slightly red in the face or skin.
Having a healthy-looking pink or reddish color in the face or skin.
C2
LITERARY
3
vérvörös
B2
Usage pattern:
a sanguine [sky/robe/banner/sea]
The soldiers marched beneath a sanguine banner that fluttered in the wind.
A katonák egy szélben lobogó, vérvörös zászló alatt meneteltek.
A sanguine light filled the room as the sun set behind the hills.
Vérvörös fény töltötte meg a szobát, ahogy a nap lebukott a dombok mögött.
He dipped his brush into the sanguine paint to darken the shadows.
The poet described the river as a sanguine ribbon through the valley.
Her dress was a rich, sanguine shade that drew every eye.
Learner examples
The sky turned a sanguine red at sunset.
Napnyugtakor az ég vérvörössé vált.
She wore a long, sanguine dress.
Hosszú, vérvörös ruhát viselt.
The flag was a deep, sanguine color.
The artist used a sanguine tone for the dark red parts.
Blood made the water look sanguine.
Common mistake:
Learners often assume "sanguine" always means "optimistic." When it clearly describes the color of an object, especially in literary or artistic language, it means "deep red."
Meaning
blood-red in color
Collocations
sanguine sky
|sanguine robes
|sanguine banner
|sanguine sea
Synonyms
crimson (Very common literary word for a deep, slightly purplish red.)
|
blood-red (More explicit and graphic; directly mentions blood.)
|
scarlet (Bright, vivid red, often with a little orange tone.)
Antonyms
colorless (Lacking strong color; neutral rather than strongly red.)
Themes
colors
|art
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Having a dark red color like blood.
Having a deep red or blood-red color.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
4
szangvin
C1
vörös kréta
B2
Usage pattern:
to draw [something] in sanguine
The portrait was executed in sanguine on laid paper.
A portré vergépapíron, szangvinnal készült.
Many Renaissance studies of the human body were drawn in sanguine.
A reneszánszból számos emberi testet ábrázoló tanulmányrajz készült szangvinnal.
The artist combined sanguine and charcoal to create rich tonal contrasts.
This sketch in sanguine shows his early interest in anatomy.
Conservators identified the medium as natural iron-oxide sanguine.
Learner examples
The picture was drawn in sanguine.
A képet szangvinnal rajzolták.
She bought sanguine and charcoal for her art class.
Szangvint és faszenet vett a rajzórájára.
The artist used sanguine to show the warm skin color.
Old studies of faces are often in sanguine.
He prefers sanguine instead of black pencil.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize "sanguine" can be a noun in art contexts. In phrases like "drawn in sanguine," it refers to the red-brown chalk itself, not to optimism or color in general.
Meaning
reddish-brown chalk for drawing
Collocations
drawn in sanguine
|a sanguine drawing
|sanguine and charcoal
|red chalk sanguine
Synonyms
red chalk (Plain descriptive term; often used interchangeably in art contexts.)
Antonyms
charcoal (A contrasting drawing medium that is black rather than reddish-brown.)
Themes
art
|materials
|arts_entertainment
Definition
A stick of dark red-brown chalk that artists use for drawing.
A reddish-brown chalk or crayon, traditionally made from iron oxide, used for drawing and sketching.
C2
ARCHAIC
5
véres
B1
Usage pattern:
a sanguine [battle/scene/deed]
The chronicles speak of a sanguine field, thick with the fallen.
A krónikák elesettekkel borított, véres mezőről beszélnek.
In that sanguine year, the kingdom was torn apart by civil war.
Abban a véres évben a királyságot polgárháború tépte szét.
The rebels’ victory came only after a long and sanguine struggle.
Historians recall the campaign as one of the most sanguine in the nation’s history.
The novel opens with a sanguine scene on the battlefield.
Learner examples
The soldiers walked across the sanguine ground.
A katonák a véres földön haladtak át.
The war was long and sanguine.
A háború hosszú és véres volt.
Old books sometimes call a bloody fight a sanguine fight.
The story begins with a dark, sanguine battle.
They tried to end the sanguine conflict.
Common mistake:
This sense is rare and mostly found in older texts. Modern English normally uses "bloody" or "violent" instead. Learners should not use "sanguine" with this meaning in everyday speech or writing.
Meaning
involving or full of bloodshed
Collocations
sanguine battlefields
|sanguine scenes
|sanguine deeds
|sanguine struggle
Synonyms
bloody (Modern and direct; commonly used to describe violent events with much bloodshed.)
Antonyms
bloodless (Describes events with no or very little bloodshed.)
Themes
war
|violence
|law
|politics
Definition
Having a lot of blood or killing; bloody.
Involving, accompanied by, or characterized by bloodshed.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sanguine
IPA
GB/sˈæŋɡwɪn/
US/sˈæŋɡwɪn/
Syllables & stress
san - guine (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (san)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: sanguine
Word family
Related words
sanguinely
adverb
sanguineness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unsanguine
adjective
Advanced or less common
sanguinary
adjective
consanguineous
adjective
consanguinity
noun
Expressions
be sanguine about
1/bˈi sˈæŋɡwɪn əbˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
formal
be confidently hopeful about something
To feel sure that a particular thing will be good in the future, even if the situation is difficult.
Examples
- Analysts are sanguine about the company’s ability to repay its debt.
- She is not sanguine about the chances of meaningful reform.
- Most parents remain sanguine about their children’s prospects.
overly sanguine about
1/ˈoʊvɚli sˈæŋɡwɪn əbˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
formal
too confident or optimistic about something
To be more hopeful and sure about a future result than is reasonable.
Examples
- Critics say the government is overly sanguine about the pace of economic recovery.
- The forecast seems overly sanguine about future demand.
- Some experts think the report is overly sanguine about the impact of new technology.
remain sanguine
1/ɹɪmˈeɪn sˈæŋɡwɪn/
fixed phrase
formal
continue to be optimistic
To stay confident and hopeful, even when problems continue.
Examples
- Investors remain sanguine despite recent market volatility.
- He remained sanguine throughout the long negotiations.
- They remain sanguine that a solution will eventually be found.