the act or practice of letting blood by opening a vein; phlebotomy.

bloodshed or slaughter.

bloodbath.

Informal . severe cutbacks or reduction in personnel, appropriations, etc.

The company went through a period of bloodletting in the 1970s.

noun

bloodbath , bloodshed , butchery , carnage , pogrom , slaughter , bleeding , phlebotomy , venesection