mercy
1 Americannoun
plural
mercies-
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.
- Synonyms:
- tenderness, lenity, leniency, clemency, indulgence, forgiveness, mildness
- Antonyms:
- cruelty
-
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
noun
noun
-
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
-
in the power of
Etymology
Origin of mercy
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English merci, from Old French, earlier mercit, from Latin mercēd-, stem of mercēs “wages” ( Late Latin, Medieval Latin: “heavenly reward”), derivative of merc-, stem of merx “commodity, goods, merchandise”
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.
With all the strength he could gather, Duane clawed at the snow wall until he forced his way into the lair, ready to face his unknown fate at the mercy of the dragon monster.
From Literature
“It feels really precious to be able to own things physically and not be at the mercy of studios’ financial decisions.”
From Los Angeles Times
His manager Joyce Moore saw the musician’s death as a form of mercy, observing that in death he would never “have to look over his shoulder again.”
From Salon
He maintained a highly visible media profile with television shows and mercy missions, which some critics cast as self-promotion.
From BBC
As every child knows, balloons are at the mercy of the wind.
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.
