mercilessly
Americanadverb
-
without mercy, pity, or tolerance.
I was mercilessly bullied in school throughout my childhood.
Any speaker who goes on longer than 15 minutes will be interrupted mercilessly by the moderator.
-
without reprieve; unbearably.
An unusually humid July morning had morphed into a mercilessly hot afternoon.
Etymology
Origin of mercilessly
Explanation
To behave mercilessly is to act without showing pity or sympathy, like a bully who torments other kids or a basketball team that beats the opponent 125 – 0. Whenever possible, it’s best to avoid people who act mercilessly. When you show mercy, you're kind and empathetic. Without any mercy, you’re merciless, and when you act this way you act mercilessly. You show no pity! Some big brothers kid their little sisters mercilessly, and a judge who gives the maximum sentence for a minor crime has ruled mercilessly. Mercy is at the root of mercilessly, from the Old French merci, which means both "thanks" and "pity." If people act mercilessly, tell them thanks for nothing!
Vocabulary lists containing mercilessly
"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker
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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
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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.
By mercilessly hardening her heart, Judit hopes to withstand the tribulations of poverty and betrayal.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
Software stocks have been mercilessly battered in recent weeks, and that trend has continued in a striking way to start this year.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 17, 2026
Another speaker at the event on Sunday was Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvi, who said: "Today, we recall the precious lives who were mercilessly taken from our midst on 7 October."
From BBC • Oct. 5, 2025
I’ve watched him do it mercilessly to racists ever since he dropped the hammer at the Oxford Union.
From Slate • Jul. 29, 2025
Tucker sat next to the class treasurer, glasses flashing in the light, wringing his speech mercilessly between his hands.
From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia
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.
