Definition of merciful
: full of mercy : compassionate a merciful ruler; also : providing relief a merciful end
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Examples of merciful in a Sentence
He became less merciful to his enemies.
He died a quick and merciful death.
Recent Examples of merciful from the Web
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The weather gods proved merciful and the rest of that performance only had tempest references in the dialogue.
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The Argentine Jesuit, who has emphasized the church’s merciful face during his four-year papacy, recalled Mazzolari’s exhortation that a priest’s job isn’t to demand perfection from the faithful, but to encourage them to do their best.
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How long their subjugation may be necessary is known & ordered by a wise Merciful Providence.
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The long winter of our discontent just may be coming to a merciful end.
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Donnie Hart was charged with three runs on five hits in the bottom of that frame, but Davis homered again in the 13th to give the Orioles their final, merciful cushion.
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The second season is a more merciful 10 episodes long, though there was a two-hour Christmas special released last December that bridges the narrative gap between seasons.
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In merciful brief, the whole story seems to have started in the swampy outpost of one Mike Cernovich, a man notable for having once opined that women love the taste of his precious bodily fluids.
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Frequently when the plot comes to crossroads, Smith turns away from the direction of genre pulp and toward something a little more grounded and merciful.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'merciful.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of merciful
14th century
MERCIFUL Defined for English Language Learners
merciful
playDefinition of merciful for English Language Learners
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: treating people with kindness and forgiveness : not cruel or harsh : having or showing mercy
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: giving relief from suffering
MERCIFUL Defined for Kids
merciful
playDefinition of merciful for Students
: having or showing mercy or compassion a merciful ruler
mercifully
\-fə-lē\ adverbLearn More about merciful
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Spanish Central: Translation of merciful Nglish: Translation of merciful for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of merciful for Arabic speakers
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