merciless
6 synonyms and 1 antonym for merciless, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Showing no mercy at all; cruel and unforgiving.
Synonyms
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.
Antonyms
How to use merciless
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
merciless heat
merciless critic
a merciless attack
Etymology
From Middle English merciles, formed from mercy plus -less, meaning literally "without mercy."
Full origin of merciless →Frequently asked questions
What does “merciless” mean?
The word “merciless” means showing no mercy at all; cruel and unforgiving. In plain terms, completely without pity or forgiveness.
How do you pronounce “merciless”?
“Merciless” is pronounced MUR-sih-luhs (/ˈmɝsɪləs/ in IPA).
How do you use “merciless” in a sentence?
Here is “merciless” used in a sentence: “The critics were merciless in their review of the film.”
What part of speech is “merciless”?
“Merciless” is an adjective.
Where does the word “merciless” come from?
The word “merciless” comes from Middle English. From Middle English merciles, formed from mercy plus -less, meaning literally "without mercy.".
