chiefly US
: having a fierce, relentless, or aggressive character
a take-no-prisoners attitude
… McGraw is actually famous for his blunt, take-no-prisoners style of therapy. Marc Peyser
… the kind of scorched-earth, take-no-prisoners writing style she had become notorious for. Kirsten Fleming
He is one of a kind—a maverick with a take-no-prisoners approach to the wine business. Wine Spectator
The long-distance marketers are now digging in for a take-no-prisoners strategy to keep a tight grip on their $70 billion industry … Kate Fitzgerald

take no prisoners

2 of 2

idiomatic phrase

: to be aggressively harsh, tough, or relentless (as in pursuing a goal, exploiting an advantage, or expressing criticism)
a politician who takes no prisoners
His record as a tough, capable administrator somehow manages to satisfy both Pentagon hard-liners and State Department moderates. "He takes no prisoners," says a U.S. official … Daniel Eisenberg
That show featured Barbara Frum, who was simply one of the most important, most fearless TV journalists this country has ever seen. … She took no prisoners in those interviews. John Cairns
Like their private sector counterparts, … [they] have been known to take no prisoners when competing for contracts. Willie Schatz
Mr. Smith takes no prisoners as he lambastes a policy he believes was misguided and mistaken from the beginning. Walter Russell Mead

Examples of take-no-prisoners in a Sentence

Adjective a theater critic with a take-no-prisoners approach to reviewing Broadway's latest offerings
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
The Lions are the most complete team in the league, a byproduct of their fearless coach’s take-no-prisoners mantra. Zak Keefer, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1968, in the meaning defined above

Idiomatic Phrase

1915, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of take-no-prisoners was in 1915

Dictionary Entries Near take-no-prisoners

take no notice

take-no-prisoners

take no prisoners

Cite this Entry

“Take-no-prisoners.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take-no-prisoners. Accessed 4 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

take-no-prisoners

adjective
: having a fierce, relentless, or merciless character
take-no-prisoners politics
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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