mercy
compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner.
the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing: an adversary wholly without mercy.
the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, especially to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty.
an act of kindness, compassion, or favor: She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors.
something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing: It was just a mercy we had our seat belts on when it happened.
Idioms about mercy
at the mercy of, entirely in the power of; subject to: They were at the mercy of their captors.: Also at one's mercy.
Origin of mercy
1Other words for mercy
Opposites for mercy
Words Nearby mercy
Other definitions for Mercy (2 of 2)
a female given name.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use mercy in a sentence
Without a direct avenue to customers, Apple has been at the mercy of third-party sellers.
Apple’s iPhone sales have lagged in India for years. It’s only now unleashing its branding firepower | Grady McGregor | September 6, 2020 | FortuneWhen Mulan finally meets her, the witch says, “When they find out who you are, they will show you no mercy.”
Women like Mulan didn’t need to go to war in disguise | Bethany Brookshire | September 4, 2020 | Science News For StudentsHowever, since their existing upfront deals did not provide pandemic-related escape clauses and the advertisers were at the mercy of the networks to excuse them.
‘Kind of squishy’: Advertisers lobby to add pandemic clauses to TV upfront deals | Tim Peterson | September 1, 2020 | DigidayThe city was at the mercy of its own bureaucracy and individual family members who made up the trust had different views of what they should do with the property.
The Deal Before the 101 Ash St. Debacle Helps Explain How We Got Here | Lisa Halverstadt and Jesse Marx | August 24, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoSo we will never again be at the mercy of China and other foreign countries in order to protect our own people.
Biden faults Trump for mismanaging coronavirus in convention speech | Chris Johnson | August 21, 2020 | Washington Blade
But give the Kingdom credit for its sense of mercy: The lashes will be administered only 50 at a time.
But it never has been the site of equal mercy, and it never will be.
If mercy is not preached by a national figure we take seriously, our battles over policy power will grow ever more merciless.
Policy is about wielding power, while mercy is about transcending power by renouncing it.
Canned drinks like mercy contain up 5,000 percent of the daily value of certain vitamins.
Brethren are a help in the time of trouble, but mercy shall deliver more than they.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousHave mercy on thy people, upon whom thy name is invoked: and upon Israel, whom thou hast raised up to be thy firstborn.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousIf she have a tongue that can cure, and likewise mitigate and shew mercy: her husband is not like other men.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousHenceforth he must remember Winifred only when his sword was at the throat of some wretched mutineer appealing for mercy.
The Red Year | Louis TracyAnd thou hast delivered me, according to the multitude of the mercy of thy name, from them that did roar, prepared to devour.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | Various
British Dictionary definitions for mercy
/ (ˈmɜːsɪ) /
compassionate treatment of or attitude towards an offender, adversary, etc, who is in one's power or care; clemency; pity
the power to show mercy: to throw oneself on someone's mercy
a relieving or welcome occurrence or state of affairs: his death was a mercy after weeks of pain
at the mercy of in the power of
Origin of mercy
1Collins 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 Idioms and Phrases with mercy
see at the mercy of.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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