ruthless

[rooth-lis]

See more synonyms for ruthless on Thesaurus.com

adjective

without pity or compassion; cruel; merciless: a ruthless tyrant.

Origin of ruthless

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at ruth, -less

Related formsruth·less·ly, adverbruth·less·ness, noun

Synonyms

See more synonyms for ruthless on Thesaurus.com

unrelenting, adamant, relentless.

Synonym study

See cruel.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for ruthless

Contemporary Examples

His stories were constructed with ruthless narrative efficiency.
Can Tarzan of the Apes Survive in a Post-Colonial World?
Ted Gioia
November 23, 2014
To be fair, he might not have known that Pinochet was a ruthless dictator.
Borges Had A Genius For Literature But Not Love Or Much Else
Allen Barra
October 24, 2014
Her remarks on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have drawn some ruthless criticism from Jews around the world.
Annie Lennox Doesn’t Give a Damn What You Think
Itay Hod
October 21, 2014
So it continues to make local authorities and their ruthless cronies uneasy.
Anatomy of a Mexican Student Massacre
Jason McGahan
October 8, 2014
I was not prepared for the staggered, ruthless falling apart of one of the people I love most in the world.
No One Ever Loses to Cancer
Dushka Zapata
October 8, 2014

Historical Examples

There was something so ruthless in the boy, so overbearing and heartless.
Dust
Mr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius
He perceived that he had become the victim of a harsh and ruthless dealing.
Meadow Grass
Alice Brown
"Here, take it," the postman said in a tone of ruthless finality.
Pee-wee Harris
Percy Keese Fitzhugh
Alice interfered; she perceived that the ruthless Mrs. Dowling meant to have her way.
Alice Adams
Booth Tarkington
I was determined to pursue my ruthless course in his defense to the end.
The Law-Breakers
Ridgwell Cullum

British Dictionary definitions for ruthless

ruthless

adjective

feeling or showing no mercy; hardhearted

Derived Formsruthlessly, adverbruthlessness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ruthless

adj.

early 14c., from reuthe "pity, compassion" (see ruth) + -less. Ruthful (early 13c.) has fallen from use since late 17c. except as a deliberate archaism. Related: Ruthlessly; ruthlessness.

ruthless

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}ruthless

Synonyms

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for ruthless

Contemporary Examples

His stories were constructed with ruthless narrative efficiency.

To be fair, he might not have known that Pinochet was a ruthless dictator.

Her remarks on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have drawn some ruthless criticism from Jews around the world.

So it continues to make local authorities and their ruthless cronies uneasy.

I was not prepared for the staggered, ruthless falling apart of one of the people I love most in the world.

Historical Examples

There was something so ruthless in the boy, so overbearing and heartless.

He perceived that he had become the victim of a harsh and ruthless dealing.

"Here, take it," the postman said in a tone of ruthless finality.

Alice interfered; she perceived that the ruthless Mrs. Dowling meant to have her way.

I was determined to pursue my ruthless course in his defense to the end.

ruthless

Word Origin and History for ruthless

adj.

Origin of ruthless