merciful

[ mur-si-fuhl ]
See synonyms for: mercifulmercifulness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. full of mercy; characterized by, expressing, or showing mercy; compassionate: a merciful God.

Origin of merciful

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; mercy + -ful

Other words for merciful

Opposites for merciful

Other words from merciful

  • mer·ci·ful·ly, adverb
  • mer·ci·ful·ness, noun
  • o·ver·mer·ci·ful, adjective
  • o·ver·mer·ci·ful·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·mer·ci·ful·ness, noun

Words Nearby merciful

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use merciful in a sentence

  • But with no Devil the belief in a merciful and loving Heavenly Father becomes impossible.

    God and my Neighbour | Robert Blatchford
  • But this theory of a merciful, and loving Heavenly Father is vital to the Christian religion.

    God and my Neighbour | Robert Blatchford
  • He longed for death with a full and yearning desire, and he could kiss the hand that would be merciful and give the fatal blow.

  • Her face was grey as the one from which she drew the merciful coverings, but her eyes went fearlessly to that which she sought.

    Uncanny Tales | Various
  • "It has been a most merciful escape," Maloney said, his pulpit voice struggling with his emotion.

    Three More John Silence Stories | Algernon Blackwood

British Dictionary definitions for merciful

merciful

/ (ˈmɜːsɪfʊl) /


adjective
  1. showing or giving mercy; compassionate

Derived forms of merciful

  • mercifulness, noun

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