Synonyms
- affectless
- callous
- case-hardened
- cold-blooded
- compassionless
- desensitized
- hard
- hard-boiled
- hard-hearted
- heartless
- indurate
- inhuman
- inhumane
- insensate
- insensitive
- ironhearted
- obdurate
- pachydermatous
- pitiless
- remorseless
- ruthless
- slash-and-burn
- soulless
- stony
- stoney
- stonyhearted
- take-no-prisoners
- thick-skinned
- uncharitable
- unfeeling
- unmerciful
- unsparing
- unsympathetic
Examples of merciless in a Sentence
the merciless killing of innocent people
He has been merciless in his criticism of his opponent.
Recent Examples on the Web
The results are plain to see: the most just war in Israel’s history is seen by many around the world as brutal and merciless, an unfair battle between an Israeli Goliath and a Palestinian David.
—
Ari Shavit, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2024
Because Alice Munro wrote these women, their perception is as merciless as hers.
—Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 15 May 2024
Both missions had to contend with the same merciless icescapes.
—Sean Kingsley, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Oct. 2024
At the same time, the merciless Genet (Anne Charrier) and her Pouvoir du Vivant (Power of the Living) movement gain momentum, setting up an epic clash between her soldiers and the pacifistic Union of Hope.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 13 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for merciless 
Ari Shavit, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2024
Because Alice Munro wrote these women, their perception is as merciless as hers.
—Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 15 May 2024
Both missions had to contend with the same merciless icescapes.
—Sean Kingsley, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Oct. 2024
At the same time, the merciless Genet (Anne Charrier) and her Pouvoir du Vivant (Power of the Living) movement gain momentum, setting up an epic clash between her soldiers and the pacifistic Union of Hope.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 13 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for merciless
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'merciless.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Merciless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/merciless. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
merciless
adjective
mer·ci·less
ˈmər-si-ləs 
: having no mercy : pitiless
merciless slaughter
mercilessly
adverb
mercilessness
noun
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