Synonyms

ruthless

American

[rooth-lis] / ˈruθ lɪs /

adjective

without pity or compassion; cruel; merciless.

a ruthless tyrant.

Synonyms:

relentless, adamant, unrelenting

ruthless British

/ ˈruːθlɪs /

adjective

feeling or showing no mercy; hardhearted

"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

Related Words

See cruel.

Other Word Forms

ruthlessly adverb
ruthlessness noun

Etymology

Origin of ruthless

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; ruth + -less

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.

Scams, schemes, ruthless cons: The untold story of how Jeffrey Epstein got rich.

From MarketWatch

Vladimir Putin may have a reputation among some as a ruthless autocrat, a master manipulator of the international scene.

From BBC

My mind immediately went to Mr. Potter from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a character known for his ruthless business tactics and lack of compassion.

From The Wall Street Journal

Hill appeared less steely than his contemporaries, such as an emerging Michael Schumacher, and perhaps not as ruthless.

From BBC

She passed on dud iterations with the ruthless efficiency of a casting director who makes actors cry at auditions.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023