merciless

adjective

ˈmər-si-ləs How to pronounce merciless (audio)
Definition of mercilessnext
as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings she is a merciless competitor at board games of any kind

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of merciless Humility is the posture; the standard is merciless. — Luis E. Romero, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 Having catalogued the Black Death’s horrifying effects, Ibn Khatima went on to outline a series of preventative measures and active treatments designed to combat this merciless scourge. — Literary Hub, 27 May 2026 The jokes on social media will be endless, and opposing fans will be merciless. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 May 2026 The show was merciless with its satirical barbs against top government officials and current events, just as its parent company Paramount Skydance has pushed to acquire Warner Bros Discovery. — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for merciless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merciless
  1. ruthless
  2. stony
Adjective
  • Once the ruthless commander of Bosnian Serb forces, Mladic oversaw the siege of Sarajevo, mass killings and the 1995 Srebrenica massacre that left more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys dead.
    — Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter, like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of ruthless
Adjective
  • Oscar Wilde, for example, reposes beneath a hulking deity whose iconoclastic castration, back in 1961, did little to restrain pilgrims seeking to smear red lips across his stony physique.
    — Emily Cox, ARTnews.com, 22 May 2026
  • Instead of looking like a sleek urban loft, the room can quickly start to feel cold, stony, and impersonal.
    — Natasha Bazika, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026
Definition of stony

Browse Nearby Words

mercifulness
merciless
mercilessly
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Cite this Entry

“Merciless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merciless. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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