merciful
adjective
mer·ci·ful
ˈmər-si-fəl 
: full of mercy : compassionate
a merciful ruler
also
: providing relief
a merciful end
Examples of merciful in a Sentence
He became less merciful to his enemies.
He died a quick and merciful death.
Recent Examples on the Web
Federer breaks the record of 12 straight finals victories shared by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe.
2008 — Michigan’s 42-7 drubbing by Ohio State put a merciful end to the worst season in Michigan’s 129 years of intercollegiate football.
—
Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
Discrete levels are filled with an array of obstacles and enemies, some of which culminate in gigantic bosses whose easygoing challenge offers a merciful break from the likes of Elden Ring.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2024
Some are kept affordable by other government subsidies, by merciful landlords or by states, including California, Colorado and New York, that have worked to keep them low-cost by relying on several levers.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2024
Campaigning for this surprise snap election lasted just a merciful six weeks.
—William
booth, Washington Post, 4 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for merciful 
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.
Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
Discrete levels are filled with an array of obstacles and enemies, some of which culminate in gigantic bosses whose easygoing challenge offers a merciful break from the likes of Elden Ring.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2024
Some are kept affordable by other government subsidies, by merciful landlords or by states, including California, Colorado and New York, that have worked to keep them low-cost by relying on several levers.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2024
Campaigning for this surprise snap election lasted just a merciful six weeks.
—William
booth, Washington Post, 4 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for merciful
Dictionary Entries Near merciful
Cite this Entry
“Merciful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/merciful. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
merciful
adjective
mer·ci·ful
ˈmər-si-fəl
: having or showing mercy : compassionate
a merciful ruler
mercifully
adverb
-f(ə-)lē
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share