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.

Ghalibaf is considered ruthless and ambitious but also a competent manager.

From The Wall Street Journal

Salah possessed the selfish, ruthless streak that is common among all the greats, but the assists figure alone demonstrates he was also a team contributor.

From BBC

David Simon, whose ruthless negotiating tactics, obsession with details and sheer force of will turned his family’s real-estate business into the largest mall owner in the country, died Sunday after a cancer diagnosis in 2024.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Northern Irishman was jeered on every throw by the Dublin crowd as he suffered a 6-0 humbling at the hands of a ruthless Price.

From BBC

It was several days before I perceived that most of these “girls” were young men in hiding from the forced-labor conscription, which had grown more ruthless than ever.

From Literature

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