adv
mercifully
MUR-sihf-lee
Mercifully (adv) means In a way that shows mercy or kindness. Example: “She treated the prisoners mercifully, despite what they had done.”
adv
1
In a way that shows mercy or kindness.
"She treated the prisoners mercifully, despite what they had done."
2
Used to say something turned out better than it might have — luckily, thankfully.
"Mercifully, the storm passed before it could do any real damage."
How to use mercifully
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "in a kind, forgiving way" or, more commonly today, "thankfully."
Common pairings
mercifully brief
mercifully, the rain stopped
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more mercifully
- Superlative
- most mercifully
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She treated the prisoners _____, despite what they had done.
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for mercifully
See all rhymes for mercifully →Frequently asked questions
What does “mercifully” mean?
The word “mercifully” means in a way that shows mercy or kindness. In plain terms, either "in a kind, forgiving way" or, more commonly today, "thankfully.".
How do you pronounce “mercifully”?
“Mercifully” is pronounced MUR-sihf-lee (/ˈmɝ.sɪf.(ə.)li/ in IPA).
How do you use “mercifully” in a sentence?
Here is “mercifully” used in a sentence: “She treated the prisoners mercifully, despite what they had done.”
What part of speech is “mercifully”?
“Mercifully” is an adverb.
How many meanings does “mercifully” have?
“Mercifully” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a way that shows mercy or kindness.
