pitiless

American  

[pit-i-lis, pit-ee-] / ˈpɪt ɪ lɪs, ˈpɪt i- /

adjective

1. feeling or showing no pity; merciless.

   pitiless criticism of his last novel.

   Synonyms:

   implacable, unmerciful, relentless

   Antonyms:

   merciful

---

pitiless British  

/ ˈpɪtɪlɪs /

adjective

1. having or showing little or no pity or mercy

---

Related Words

See cruel.

Other Word Forms

• pitilessly adverb
• pitilessness noun

Etymology

Origin of pitiless

First recorded in 1375–1425, pitiless is from the late Middle English word piteles. See pity, -less

Example Sentences

I saw fangs and the pitiless gleam of an eye.

From Literature

Australian Jews are on the front lines in a pitiless war.

From The Wall Street Journal

She can peg a person’s height at a glance and sum up their prospects in a pitiless snap judgment.

From Los Angeles Times

As Ambrose Pierce wrote, “Patriotism is as fierce as a fever, pitiless and the grave, blind as a stone and irrational as a headless man.”

From Salon

Her loss unleashed Twain’s anger at pitiless fate, and his relationships with his two surviving daughters became increasingly estranged.

From Los Angeles Times