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Synonyms

hardhearted

American  
[hahrd-hahr-tid] / ˈhɑrdˈhɑr tɪd /

adjective

  1. unfeeling; unmerciful; pitiless.

    Synonyms:
    unforgiving, mean, merciless, heartless

hardhearted British  
/ ˌhɑːdˈhɑːtɪd /

adjective

  1. unkind or intolerant

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • hardheartedly adverb
  • hardheartedness noun

Etymology

Origin of hardhearted

1175–1225; Middle English hardherted. See hard, hearted ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The word "cruel" originates from the Latin word crudelis, which is defined as "hardhearted, bloodthirsty, unmerciful and inhuman."

From Salon • Dec. 12, 2023

To not give it a standing ovation is to be hardhearted.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2023

With all of that, maybe one can watch this season with a soft heart for the hardhearted out there.

From Washington Post • Nov. 7, 2021

He refers to them together as “children,” which is factually true, but also emphasizes the point that surviving in a hardhearted environment — even thinking of survival — requires a certain innocence.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 23, 2021

And the living son, the child, Roy, was headlong already, and hardhearted: he lay at home, silent now, and bitter against his father, a bandage on his forehead.

From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin