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

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pitiless British  

/ ˈpɪtɪlɪs /

adjective

1. having or showing little or no pity or mercy

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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

Explanation

Pitiless means "without mercy" or "cruel." Movie critics are often described as pitiless, because if they hate a film, they don't hold back or consider the feelings of the people who poured their hearts into making it. The root word of the adjective pitiless is pity. If someone lacks all sympathy or tenderness, you can describe them as pitiless. People who are annoyed that they have to step out of the way of homeless people who huddle against buildings in winter are probably pitiless — they just don't care about the plights of others. How can you tell if your friends are pitiless? They seem bored or annoyed when you are upset about something.

Example Sentences

Before Standard Oil became “the most gigantic, the most cruel, impudent, pitiless, and grasping monopoly which ever fastened upon a community,” it was a start-up.

From Barron's • May 2, 2026

Philosopher Timothy McGrew then observes that Mr. Dawkins “has famously said that ‘the universe has at bottom just those properties one would expect if there were no design, no purpose, only blind pitiless indifference.’

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

After the pitiless grind of junior year, we are all determined to enjoy our family’s final days in high school.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 12, 2024

Our reviewer called the book “beautiful and brilliant, heartbreaking and wise, but also pitiless, which may be controversial to list among its virtues but is in fact essential to its success.”

From New York Times • May 8, 2023

Beside him stood a tall young man, and a girl about Torak’s own age: Both had dark-red hair, smooth, pitiless faces, and flint arrows trained on his heart.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver