merciless

[mur-si-lis]

adjective

1. without mercy; having or showing no mercy; pitiless; cruel.

   a merciless critic.

   Synonyms: inexorable, unsympathetic, fell, unrelenting, relentless, hard
   Antonyms: compassionate

merciless

/ ˈmɜːsɪlɪs /

adjective

1. without mercy; pitiless, cruel, or heartless

Other Word Forms

• mercilessness noun
• mercilessly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of merciless¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English mercyles; mercy, -less

Example Sentences

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told President Joe Biden much the same thing, while shrugging off concerns about Israel’s merciless killing of civilians in Gaza.

From Salon

There is plenty of cold-hearted, merciless darkness, compulsive behavior and, of course, ill-fated love of all kinds.

From Salon

"The merciless war that Russia wages against Ukraine shows us daily that Europe means freedom and peace, whilst Putin's Russia means war and death," the president said.

From BBC

Recognizing this undercurrent explains why Knox’s confrontation with the seemingly merciless Giuliano Mignini, the prosecutor who did everything in his power to deprive her of her freedom, bookends “The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox.”

From Salon

However inspiring the boards looked taped inside her closet, the reality was gradual and often merciless.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• barbarous 
• callous 
• cruel 
• fierce 
• grim 
• harsh 
• implacable 
• inexorable 
• inhumane 
• relentless 
• ruthless 
• severe 
• unforgiving 
• unrelenting 
• unsparing 
• unyielding