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If someone can be ruthless, can one also be ruthful?
Ruthless can be defined as "without ruth" or "having no ruth." So what, then, is ruth? The noun ruth, which is now considerably less common than ruthless, means "compassion for the misery of another," "sorrow for one's own faults," or "remorse." And, just as it is possible for one to be without ruth, it is also possible to be full of ruth. The antonym of ruthless is ruthful, meaning "full of ruth" or "tender." Ruthful can also mean "full of sorrow" or "causing sorrow." Ruth can be traced back to the Middle English noun ruthe, itself from ruen, meaning "to rue" or "to feel regret, remorse, or sorrow."
Examples of ruthless in a Sentence
Matt Cabral, EW.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Successful entrepreneurs are ruthless with time and priorities Successful entrepreneurs are ruthless with their time and fiercely protective of their focus.
—Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
As his teachings take a harrowing turn towards violence, Rena witnesses the transformation of devoted followers into ruthless killers, indoctrinated to carry out brutal acts.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2025
Throughout its tenure, the regime was heavily armed, violent, and ruthless in its pursuit and maintenance of rule.
—Dan Pontefract, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruthless
Cite this Entry
“Ruthless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ruthless. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.
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