heartless
9 synonyms for heartless, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Lacking compassion or feeling for others; cruel.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use heartless
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a heartless act
heartless treatment
utterly heartless
Etymology
From Old English heortlēas, literally "without a heart" — originally could also mean cowardly, though the "cruel, unfeeling" sense is now dominant.
Full origin of heartless →Frequently asked questions
What does “heartless” mean?
The word “heartless” means lacking compassion or feeling for others; cruel. In plain terms, cold and cruel, showing no sympathy for other people's suffering.
How do you pronounce “heartless”?
“Heartless” is pronounced HAHT-lihs (/ˈhɑɹt.lɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “heartless” in a sentence?
Here is “heartless” used in a sentence: “It was heartless of him to fire her the day before her wedding.”
What part of speech is “heartless”?
“Heartless” is an adjective.
Where does the word “heartless” come from?
The word “heartless” comes from Old English. From Old English heortlēas, literally "without a heart" — originally could also mean cowardly, though the "cruel, unfeeling" sense is now dominant.
Is “heartless” a common word?
“Heartless” is an uncommon word in modern English.
