pitiless

[ pit-i-lis, pit-ee- ]

adjective

1. feeling or showing no pity; merciless:

   pitiless criticism of his last novel.

   Synonyms: implacable, unmerciful, relentless

   Antonyms: merciful

pitiless

/ ˈpɪtɪlɪs /

adjective

1. having or showing little or no pity or mercy

Derived Forms

• ˈpitilessness, noun
• ˈpitilessly, adverb

Other Words From

• piti·less·ly adverb
• piti·less·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pitiless¹

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

Synonym Study

See cruel.

Example Sentences

And his pitiless beliefs would be no stranger to the political discourse of today.

From The Daily Beast

Efficiency may seem a pitiless term to use but it does have meaning.

From The Daily Beast

I shall bring him forth and shine on him the pitiless light of history.

From The Daily Beast

If they complained, they received a no doubt well-deserved and pitiless beating.

From The Daily Beast

We thus remember Portnoy, impaling with pitiless thrusts invasive mothers, plugged-up fathers, dizzying shikses in heat.

From The Daily Beast

Whenever she was unhappy she felt herself at bay against a pitiless world, and a kind of animal secretiveness possessed her.

From Project Gutenberg

She heard the sound of the snow crunching under a heavy step, and knew that the pitiless spy was on her track.

From Project Gutenberg

Now an artist who feels restraint is pitiless; he stays away, or laughs it to scorn.

From Project Gutenberg

Princes, magistrates, and judges become inhuman and pitiless as soon as there is a question of the interests of religion.

From Project Gutenberg

He gave up praying to the pitiless, who could look down and laugh at his death-agony, and he cried upon the absent only.

From Project Gutenberg