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
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
I must confess to a fugitive and irrational wish that he might find some small mercies there.
Tupac and Murray Kempton: The Godfather Who Wore Tweed | Michael Daly | June 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTRobert Duvall won for Tender Mercies in a role similar to Bridges'.
So why not just send KSM to Port-au-Prince, I ask, and submit him to the tender mercies of Haitian justice?
Put us not to confusion, but deal with us according to thy meekness, and according to the multitude of thy mercies.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousRadical groups cheer in a spirit of thankfulness for small mercies.
Bless to us our extraordinary mercies; if the day come when these must be taken, have us play the man under affliction.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 25 (of 25) | Robert Louis StevensonThe prisoner leaned out and shook forth her ribbons—Mother of Mercies!
God Wills It! | William Stearns DavisExecrated by all good Christians, we pray the Father of Mercies, that he may receive that mercy above he never imparted below.
Fox's Book of Martyrs | John Foxe
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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