adj

merciless

MUR-sih-luhs

Merciless (adj) means showing no mercy at all; cruel and unforgiving. Example: “The critics were merciless in their review of the film.”

adj

Showing no mercy at all; cruel and unforgiving.

"The critics were merciless in their review of the film."

"The desert sun was merciless by midday."

How to use merciless

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCompletely without pity or forgiveness.

Common pairings

merciless heat merciless critic a merciless attack

more merciless comparative, most merciless superlative

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The critics were _____ in their review of the film.

From Middle English merciles, formed from mercy plus -less, meaning literally "without mercy."

Origin: Middle English

unmerciful

cruel merciful

pitiless penniless

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.".

cruel merciful