Synonyms of take-no-prisoners

take-no-prisoners

adjective

ˈtāk-ˈnō-ˈpriz-(ə-)nərz 

as in ruthless

having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings

a theater critic with a take-no-prisoners approach to reviewing Broadway's latest offerings

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ruthless
• merciless
• hard
• stony
• brutal
• pitiless
• tough
• abusive
• slash-and-burn
• oppressive
• harsh
• stern
• vicious
• compassionless
• unmerciful
• remorseless
• unsparing
• malicious
• hateful
• heartless
• callous
• thick-skinned
• hard-boiled
• obdurate
• cold-blooded
• soulless
• cruel
• pachydermatous
• affectless
• inhuman
• unsympathetic
• inhumane
• hard-hearted
• insensitive
• unfeeling
• uncharitable
• grim
• savage
• stoney
• case-hardened
• insensate
• indurate
• severe
• rough-and-tumble
• desensitized
• boorish
• ironhearted
• rough
• heedless
• stonyhearted
• mean
• virulent
• thoughtless
• uncaring
• unfriendly
• spiteful
• unthinking
• malevolent
• hard-bitten
• ungentle
• acrimonious
• heavy-handed
• sledgehammer
• ironfisted
• brutish
• inconsiderate
• unloving
• disagreeable
• jackbooted
• knock-down-and-drag-out
• rancorous
• surly
• ironhanded
• bestial
• cold
• ill-tempered
• barbarous
• knock-down, drag-out
• ill-natured
• austere
• frosty
• evil-minded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of take-no-prisoners

Elon Musk embodies it in all its brash, take-no-prisoners glory. —Leisse Wilcox, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025

And no one can remain beautiful, in the same way, forever, though Kilmer’s mischievous, take-no-prisoners smile hadn’t changed much. —Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 2 Apr. 2025

My mother is a take-no-prisoners kind of woman; in fact, all the women in my family are bulldozers. —Anna Lee Iijima, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025

Allen Iverson, another take-no-prisoners competitor, had 35 for the East. —Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2025

For Aladdin, Disney’s team built on the take-no-chances, take-no-prisoners lessons of its Broadway predecessors to all but guarantee a quality hit. —Vulture Editors, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2025

With its mile-a-minute pace, commitment to political incorrectness, and acerbic, expletive-laden dialogue, Veep is a far cry from the sunnier comedies on this list, skewering every facet of the political process with a take-no-prisoners attitude. —Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 31 Jan. 2025

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

If there is any justice, and the election results could factor into this, Sebastian Stan, perfection as the younger Trump, and a terrific Jeremy Strong as his take-no-prisoners lawyer and mentor Roy Cohn both deserve Oscar consideration. —Pete Hammond, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2024