take-no-prisoners

[teyk-noh-priz-uh-nerz, ‑-priz-nerz]

adjective

1. wholeheartedly aggressive; zealous; gung-ho.

   a businessman with a take-no-prisoners attitude toward dealmaking.

Word History and Origins

Origin of take-no-prisoners¹

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

The take-no-prisoners combative style that made him stand out in the 1980s has become just as mainstream as professional wrestling.

From Los Angeles Times

Without a center, elections become wars of survival, with a take-no-prisoners mentality.

From Salon

His take-no-prisoners approach makes everyone—but especially Democrats—uneasy.

From Slate

While reporting about that student killing 32 Hokies and himself and wounding 17, I decided I would believe in her faith in my Southern-bred listening and wordcraft to make a career of writing poems informed by my journalism training, her take-no-prisoners honesty and boundless compassion my compass.

From Los Angeles Times

As a political lefty who has also admired Musk’s business successes, the scariest thing about his taking the reins of government is that his bulldozing, take-no-prisoners style has frequently paid off.

From Slate