unforgiving
Americanadjective
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not disposed to forgive or show mercy; unrelenting.
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not allowing for mistakes, carelessness, or weakness.
the unforgiving nature of aviation.
adjective
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not willing to forgive; unmerciful
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(of a machine, system, etc) allowing little or no opportunity for mistakes to be corrected
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harsh and unremitting
an unforgiving and desolate landscape
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unforgiving
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.
John does all that too, on top of his parents blasting all fear out of him while rearing him to expect the universe to be unforgiving.
From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2026
Panettiere’s book, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” now offers a posthumous account of a youth spent in the unforgiving eye of the entertainment industry.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
The game in Auckland turns out to be unforgiving.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
“The world can be a cruel and unforgiving place,” she continued.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
Acute pain filled her stomach the moment she moved, as unforgiving as a hanjari dagger impaled deep in her entrails.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
