at the mercy of
Idioms-
Also, at someone's mercy . Subject to the power of, helpless against, as in The captured rebels were at the mercy of the army commander . [Late 1500s]
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Without any protection against, as in On top of Mount Washington we were at the mercy of the elements . [Late 1600s]
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.
“Even today, this is a community that is essentially defenseless and at the mercy of the government,” Kermanian said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
“You’re kind of at the mercy of the customer-service department,” said Jackie Mondelli, chief marketing officer at Squaremouth, a travel-insurance comparison business.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026
“Partly it’s because a humble person may be a god in disguise, but it also allows society to function. People need to travel, to trade, and everyone is at the mercy of strangers.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
That likely leaves Bitcoin at the mercy of the “Tinkerbell Effect,” which theorizes that its value is more tied to the belief of its holders than the mechanics of the market.
From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026
With her heart hammering at the surprise attack and her predicament, Warbeak realized that she was completely at the mercy of her captor.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
