ruthless

adjective

ruth·​less ˈrüth-ləs 

 also  ˈru̇th-

: having no pity : merciless, cruel

a ruthless tyrant

ruthlessly adverb

ruthlessness noun

Did you know?

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."

Synonyms

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

Examples of ruthless in a Sentence

The journalist was ruthless in his criticism.

an office supervisor with a ruthless disregard for others' feelings

Recent Examples on the Web

Peyser covered the high-profile trial for the Post as a columnist, spending every day in court in order to produce a series of ruthless front-page takes about the Stewart scandal. —David MacK, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024

The standoff between Blanche’s impractical aestheticism and Stanley’s ruthless pragmatism is the heart of this quintessentially American drama. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024

Dillahunt will play modern cowboy William Macon, a self-righteous, conspiracy-minded man who masks his ruthless ambition behind a charming and calculated facade. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024

Breaking down the differences between playing the ruthless crime lord and the polished benefactress, Gasćon also noted that the role of Emilia was deceptively physical. —Elaina Patton, NBC News, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

ruthless

adjective

ruth·​less ˈrüth-ləs 

: having no pity : merciless, cruel

ruthlessly adverb

ruthlessness noun