heartless

adjective

heart·​less ˈhärt-ləs 

1

archaic : spiritless

2

: lacking feeling : cruel

heartlessly adverb

heartlessness noun

Synonyms

• affectless
• callous
• case-hardened
• cold-blooded
• compassionless
• desensitized
• hard
• hard-boiled
• hard-hearted
• indurate
• inhuman
• inhumane
• insensate
• insensitive
• ironhearted
• merciless
• obdurate
• pachydermatous
• pitiless
• remorseless
• ruthless
• slash-and-burn
• soulless
• stony
• stoney
• stonyhearted
• take-no-prisoners
• thick-skinned
• uncharitable
• unfeeling
• unmerciful
• unsparing
• unsympathetic

Examples of heartless in a Sentence

a heartless boss who would fire people for missing work, even if they were sick as a dog

a heartless enemy that takes no prisoners

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, we’re meant to be caught up in the world of Sergei’s backstory: his heartless gangster father (played, with a thick Russian accent, by Russell Crowe, who still knows how to own a scene), his mother’s suicide, his protective relationship with his soft kid brother Dmitri (Fred Hechinger). —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024

Neither Helen or Sam are heartless agents, both are dealing with respective love and loss stories, and Helen’s mission is more about revenge than obeying the law and the letter of the orders she’s being given. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

Being cautious, verifying offers and keeping your data secure are the best ways to avoid falling victim to these heartless fraudsters. —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 11 Nov. 2024

Second, because management wasn’t heartless enough to break the roster up just to chase marginal improvements. —Sean McIndoe, The Athletic, 5 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

heartless

adjective

heart·​less ˈhärt-ləs 

: pitiless, cruel

heartlessly adverb

heartlessness noun