adj
Uncommon
merciful
MUR-sih-fl
Merciful (adj) means showing mercy — willing to forgive or treat someone gently rather than punish them as harshly as possible. Example: “The judge was merciful and gave the young offender a suspended sentence.”
adj
1
Showing mercy — willing to forgive or treat someone gently rather than punish them as harshly as possible.
"The judge was merciful and gave the young offender a suspended sentence."
"It was a merciful death after months of suffering."
How to use merciful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishKind enough to forgive or ease someone's suffering rather than being harsh.
Common pairings
a merciful judge
merciful god
mercifully quick
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more merciful
- Superlative
- most merciful
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The judge was _____ and gave the young offender a suspended sentence.
Etymology
From Middle English merciful, built from mercy plus the suffix -ful; it replaced the older native English word mildheort.
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for merciful
See all rhymes for merciful →Frequently asked questions
What does “merciful” mean?
The word “merciful” means showing mercy — willing to forgive or treat someone gently rather than punish them as harshly as possible. In plain terms, kind enough to forgive or ease someone's suffering rather than being harsh.
How do you pronounce “merciful”?
“Merciful” is pronounced MUR-sih-fl (/ˈmɝ.sɪ.fl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “merciful” in a sentence?
Here is “merciful” used in a sentence: “The judge was merciful and gave the young offender a suspended sentence.”
What is the opposite of “merciful”?
The opposite of “merciful” — its antonyms — are cruel, inclement, merciless, unclement and relentless.
What part of speech is “merciful”?
“Merciful” is an adjective.
Where does the word “merciful” come from?
The word “merciful” comes from Middle English. From Middle English merciful, built from mercy plus the suffix -ful; it replaced the older native English word mildheort.
Is “merciful” a common word?
“Merciful” is an uncommon word in modern English.
