Synonyms of merciless

merciless

adjective

ˈmər-si-ləs 

as in ruthless

having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings

she is a merciless competitor at board games of any kind

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ruthless
• pitiless
• stony
• brutal
• hard
• oppressive
• harsh
• unmerciful
• cruel
• abusive
• remorseless
• heartless
• callous
• vicious
• inhuman
• malicious
• hateful
• compassionless
• unsparing
• tough
• stern
• inhumane
• soulless
• unfeeling
• obdurate
• take-no-prisoners
• insensitive
• hard-hearted
• unsympathetic
• uncharitable
• grim
• cold-blooded
• insensate
• thick-skinned
• slash-and-burn
• severe
• savage
• indurate
• affectless
• case-hardened
• stoney
• pachydermatous
• desensitized
• hard-boiled
• thoughtless
• uncaring
• ironhearted
• rough
• heedless
• mean
• unthinking
• stonyhearted
• ungentle
• unfriendly
• boorish
• inconsiderate
• spiteful
• malevolent
• unloving
• virulent
• cold
• disagreeable
• rough-and-tumble
• heavy-handed
• brutish
• barbarous
• surly
• ironfisted
• acrimonious
• bestial
• jackbooted
• ill-tempered
• sledgehammer
• rancorous
• ill-natured
• ironhanded
• hard-bitten
• evil-minded
• austere
• knock-down-and-drag-out
• frosty
• knock-down, drag-out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sympathetic
• warm
• sensitive
• merciful
• gentle
• humane
• compassionate
• charitable
• benevolent
• kind
• kindly
• mild
• tender
• lenient
• friendly
• kindhearted
• indulgent
• gracious
• softhearted
• warmhearted
• tenderhearted
• cordial
• benignant
• loving
• tolerant
• affectionate
• good-natured
• understanding
• clement
• fond
• good-tempered

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of merciless

Back then, residents of the burgeoning Los Angeles area had no idea a merciless killer was lurking in their midst until Feb. 2, 1928, when the headless, naked body of a teenage boy was found in a ditch on a dusty road near the sleepy suburb of La Puente. —Kc Baker, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025

The draft being held in Pittsburgh meant the Flyers were subject to merciless booing. —Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025

For the last six weeks, Americans have been yanked and ghosted, lurched and launched with a merciless urgency. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 5 Mar. 2025

By enumerating the many merciless changes in our government since January, the Rev. Michael Pleger is not making a political pitch. —Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025