merciless
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- mercilessly adverb
- mercilessness noun
Etymology
Origin of merciless
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English mercyles; mercy, -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.
The 1972 peak was followed by a merciless recession in the mid-1970s, and a heartbreaking stock market bust.
From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025
Martin Amis, a merciless observer of foibles, puts one writer’s envy of another at the heart of “The Information.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025
In particular, Hawaii Supreme Court Justice Todd Eddins has emerged as one of the judiciary’s most astute and merciless critics of the Roberts court.
From Slate • Sep. 19, 2025
There is plenty of cold-hearted, merciless darkness, compulsive behavior and, of course, ill-fated love of all kinds.
From Salon • Aug. 29, 2025
And her magic was sharp, and hard, and merciless.
From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill
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.
