Synonyms

ruthless

American

[rooth-lis] / ˈruθ lɪs /

adjective

without pity or compassion; cruel; merciless.

a ruthless tyrant.

Synonyms:

relentless, adamant, unrelenting

ruthless British

/ ˈruːθlɪs /

adjective

feeling or showing no mercy; hardhearted

"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

Related Words

See cruel.

Other Word Forms

ruthlessly adverb
ruthlessness noun

Etymology

Origin of ruthless

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; ruth + -less

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.

Instead, they were quite ruthless and kept coming forward.

From BBC

And this was a consummate display, cool and measured with a ruthless edge, even if it came against this dreadfully poor Spurs side.

From BBC

A ruthless Ireland reignited their Six Nations title bid with a record away win over England at Allianz Stadium.

From BBC

But the market is a ruthless custodian of art.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Powell radiates such manly American likability that it’s bizarrely out of character for him to play this ruthless schemer, even as an impish chancer.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023