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If someone can be ruthless, can one also be ruthful?
Ruthless can be defined as "without ruth" or "having no ruth." So what, then, is ruth? The noun ruth, which is now considerably less common than ruthless, means "compassion for the misery of another," "sorrow for one's own faults," or "remorse." And, just as it is possible for one to be without ruth, it is also possible to be full of ruth. The antonym of ruthless is ruthful, meaning "full of ruth" or "tender." Ruthful can also mean "full of sorrow" or "causing sorrow." Ruth can be traced back to the Middle English noun ruthe, itself from ruen, meaning "to rue" or "to feel regret, remorse, or sorrow."
Synonyms of ruthless
Examples of ruthless in a Sentence
Jeff Spry, Space.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Season 2 followed Cross in pursuit of a ruthless vigilante who is hunting down corrupt billionaire magnates.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2026
Below, designers share the four steps to a midimalist space, which starts with an uncluttered base, includes a mix of materials and a dash of personality, and requires ruthless final edits.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
Their little brother Dante is an irresponsible party boy, tangled up with a ruthless local gang.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Ruthless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ruthless. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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