adj
pitiless
PIH-tih-luhs
Pitiless (adj) means showing no pity or mercy. Example: “The desert sun was pitiless, beating down on the stranded hikers.”
adj
1
Showing no pity or mercy.
"The desert sun was pitiless, beating down on the stranded hikers."
"He gave a pitiless account of his rival's failures."
"Her clothes were torn to mere shreds and tatters, and through the pitiful rags her once white and tender skin showed raw and bleeding from contact with the thousand pitiless thorns and brambles through which she had been dragged."
— , The Fifty Frightful Men (1913)
How to use pitiless
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMerciless and unfeeling, with no sympathy shown.
Common pairings
pitiless heat
pitiless critic
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more pitiless
- Superlative
- most pitiless
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The desert sun was _____, beating down on the stranded hikers.
Etymology
From Middle English piteeles, from pity + -less.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for pitiless
See all rhymes for pitiless →Frequently asked questions
What does “pitiless” mean?
The word “pitiless” means showing no pity or mercy. In plain terms, merciless and unfeeling, with no sympathy shown.
How do you pronounce “pitiless”?
“Pitiless” is pronounced PIH-tih-luhs (/ˈpɪtɪləs/ in IPA).
How do you use “pitiless” in a sentence?
Here is “pitiless” used in a sentence: “The desert sun was pitiless, beating down on the stranded hikers.”
What part of speech is “pitiless”?
“Pitiless” is an adjective.
Where does the word “pitiless” come from?
The word “pitiless” comes from Middle English. From Middle English piteeles, from pity + -less.
