mercy
MUR-see
Mercy (noun) means Kindness or forgiveness shown toward someone who could reasonably be punished or treated harshly instead. Example: “The judge showed mercy to the young man because it was his first offence.”
noun
1
Kindness or forgiveness shown toward someone who could reasonably be punished or treated harshly instead.
"The judge showed mercy to the young man because it was his first offence."
"The general showed mercy to the surrendering soldiers."
"She begged for mercy, but the sentence stood."
2
A fortunate thing; a blessing, especially something to be grateful for given the circumstances.
"It was a mercy that the rain held off until we were all indoors."
"Considering how long the journey was, it was a mercy the baby slept."
"It was a mercy the children weren't in the car when it happened."
intj
1
Used to express surprise, alarm, or relief.
""Mercy me!" said Grandma, looking at the huge pile of snow outside the door."
"Mercy, I thought we would never find the keys!"
""Mercy!" she cried when she saw the mess."
How to use mercy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCompassion shown to someone who might otherwise be punished, or a stroke of luck given how bad things could have been.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
show mercy
beg for mercy
a mercy killing
have mercy on
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like mercy.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- mercies
- Third person singular
- mercies
- Past tense
- mercied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The judge showed _____ to the young man because it was his first offence.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman merci, from Latin mercedem ("wages" or "reward"), which also produced the French word merci ("thank you").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for mercy
See all rhymes for mercy →Frequently asked questions
What does “mercy” mean?
The word “mercy” means kindness or forgiveness shown toward someone who could reasonably be punished or treated harshly instead. In plain terms, compassion shown to someone who might otherwise be punished, or a stroke of luck given how bad things could have been.
How do you pronounce “mercy”?
“Mercy” is pronounced MUR-see (/ˈmɝsi/ in IPA).
How do you use “mercy” in a sentence?
Here is “mercy” used in a sentence: “The general showed mercy to the surrendering soldiers.”
What part of speech is “mercy”?
Depending on how it is used, “mercy” can be a noun and an intj.
Where does the word “mercy” come from?
The word “mercy” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman merci, from Latin mercedem ("wages" or "reward"), which also produced the French word merci ("thank you").
Is “mercy” a common word?
“Mercy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “mercy” have?
“Mercy” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: kindness or forgiveness shown toward someone who could reasonably be punished or treated harshly instead.
What is the difference between mercy and pity?
Mercy is kindness or forgiveness shown toward someone who could reasonably be punished or treated harshly, usually by someone with the power to punish. Pity is simply feeling sorrow for another's suffering, so mercy involves an action such as withholding punishment, while pity is an emotion.
What is the difference between mercy and grace?
Both involve kindness, but mercy is withholding a punishment that could justly be given, while grace is giving a favour or kindness that is not deserved. Put simply, mercy spares and grace gives.
What is the difference between mercy and compassion?
Compassion is a deep sympathy for another's suffering and a wish to relieve it, while mercy is specifically the act of forgiving or sparing someone who could be punished. You can feel compassion without having the power or occasion to show mercy.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include mercy:
