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definitions

ruthless

[ rooth-lis ]
/ ˈruθ lɪs /
||
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adjective

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

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RELATED WORDS

unrelenting, savage, unforgiving, ferocious, harsh, rancorous, inhuman, callous, vicious, brutal, unyielding, fierce, cruel, cold-blooded, cutthroat, sadistic, barbarous, malevolent, relentless, merciless

Nearby words

  1. rutherford, ernest,
  2. rutherford, joseph franklin,
  3. rutherfordium,
  4. ruthful,
  5. ruthfully,
  6. ruthlessly,
  7. rutidosis,
  8. rutilant,
  9. rutilated,
  10. rutile

Origin of ruthless

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at ruth, -less
Related formsruth·less·ly, adverbruth·less·ness, noun

Synonym study

See cruel.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ruthless

British Dictionary definitions for ruthless

ruthless

/ (ˈruːθlɪs) /

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

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper