unforgiving

adjective un·for·giv·ing \ ˌən-fər-ˈgi-viŋ \

|Updated on: 10 Jul 2018

Examples: unforgiving in a Sentence

Definition of unforgiving

1 : unwilling or unable to forgive

2 : having or making no allowance for error or weakness

an unforgiving environment where false moves can prove fatal
—Jaclyn Fierman

—

unforgivingness

noun

See unforgiving defined for English-language learners

Examples of unforgiving in a Sentence

They are unforgiving of the smallest mistake.
the unforgiving world of politics

Recent Examples of unforgiving from the Web

The organizational environment is very unforgiving.

— eoin o'carroll, The Christian Science Monitor, "Equity pending: Why so few women receive patents," 2 July 2018
But the biggest waves in the world are unforgiving, and do not always allow a surfer to paddle into them on a board.

— paul theroux, Smithsonian, "The Epic Quest to Ride the World’s Biggest Wave," 27 June 2018
Don't toss all your progress in the trash by not protecting your waves in unforgiving environments—especially during sleep.

— alexander-julian gibbson, GQ, "How to Get Waves," 25 May 2018
The company filed confidentially for an initial public offering in 2016 but has held off amid an unforgiving climate for public offerings.

— drew fitzgerald, WSJ, "AT&T in Talks to Acquire AppNexus for About $1.6 Billion," 19 June 2018
The potential wall between the two countries looms as a specter throughout the production, while Quixote and Sancho see firsthand the often tragic consequences for those trying to cross over through the stretches of harsh, unforgiving desert lands.

— marcus crowder, SFChronicle.com, "Former ‘Sesame Street’ star makes Cal Shakes’ ‘Quixote Nuevo’ an instant classic," 18 June 2018
The dense rough, deceptive topographical challenges and unforgiving greens of Shinnecock Hills continued to flummox the world’s best golfers.

— bill pennington, New York Times, "Dustin Johnson Pulls Away in Round 2 of the U.S. Open," 15 June 2018
Little was known of Blackburn, who the A's assigned to slow the Astros' unforgiving lineup.

— chandler rome, Houston Chronicle, "Evan almighty: Gattis goes on another rampage as Astros wallop Athletics," 14 June 2018
For a 17-year-old far from home, baseball was now a full-time job in an unforgiving business, and there would be tough times ahead.

— dom amore, courant.com, "Dom Amore: East Hartford's Jimmy Gonzalez Was There At Right Time For Gleyber Torres," 4 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unforgiving.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of unforgiving

1713

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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UNFORGIVING Defined for English Language Learners

unforgiving

adjective

Definition of unforgiving for English Language Learners

: not willing to forgive other people
: very harsh or difficult : not allowing weakness, error, etc.

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unforgiving

Definition of unforgiving

unforgivingness

Examples of unforgiving in a Sentence

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First Known Use of unforgiving

UNFORGIVING Defined for English Language Learners

unforgiving

Definition of unforgiving for English Language Learners

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unforgiving

Definition of unforgiving

unforgivingness

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UNFORGIVING Defined for English Language Learners

unforgiving

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