to the mercy of
idiom
: without any protection from (someone or something one cannot control)
He had to leave his boat to the mercy of the storm.
Examples of to the mercy of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Not everyone had access to reading and writing in ancient Mesopotamia, so their thoughts and experiences were left to the mercy of scribes.
—
Discover Magazine, 4 Dec. 2024
In 1866-67, U.S. Secretary of State William Seward successfully pressured Napoleon III to withdraw his troops from Mexico, leaving Maximilian to the mercy of Mexican liberals.
—Jonathan Schlefer, Foreign Affairs, 14 Mar. 2015
After District Court Judge Andrew Hanen ruled DACA unlawful in 2022, the future of the program has been left to the mercy of Hanen, the Biden administration and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
—Erick Trevino, The Arizona Republic, 14 June 2024
Whether the Sawtooths and surrounding wilderness should be turned into a national recreation area or national park, or left to the mercy of big corporations who’d take advantage of the region’s natural resources.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024
You’re left to the mercy of phone calls and secondhand news.
—Alex Convery, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2023
But Brian cannot drive yet, leaving our Prius to the mercy of the Department of Parking and Traffic.
—Kevin Fisher-Paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 July 2021
Doing so avoids leaving it to the mercy of the mail carrier.
—David Rae, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2021
The Latino undocumented community, in particular, is invisible, vulnerable and left to the mercy of nonprofits that are stressed thin, said Maryland state Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk, vice chair of the legislature’s Latino caucus.
—Stephanie García, baltimoresun.com, 24 Nov. 2020
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Discover Magazine, 4 Dec. 2024
In 1866-67, U.S. Secretary of State William Seward successfully pressured Napoleon III to withdraw his troops from Mexico, leaving Maximilian to the mercy of Mexican liberals.
—Jonathan Schlefer, Foreign Affairs, 14 Mar. 2015
After District Court Judge Andrew Hanen ruled DACA unlawful in 2022, the future of the program has been left to the mercy of Hanen, the Biden administration and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
—Erick Trevino, The Arizona Republic, 14 June 2024
Whether the Sawtooths and surrounding wilderness should be turned into a national recreation area or national park, or left to the mercy of big corporations who’d take advantage of the region’s natural resources.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024
You’re left to the mercy of phone calls and secondhand news.
—Alex Convery, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2023
But Brian cannot drive yet, leaving our Prius to the mercy of the Department of Parking and Traffic.
—Kevin Fisher-Paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 July 2021
Doing so avoids leaving it to the mercy of the mail carrier.
—David Rae, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2021
The Latino undocumented community, in particular, is invisible, vulnerable and left to the mercy of nonprofits that are stressed thin, said Maryland state Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk, vice chair of the legislature’s Latino caucus.
—Stephanie García, baltimoresun.com, 24 Nov. 2020
Cite this Entry
“To the mercy of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/to%20the%20mercy%20of. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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