unforgiving

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

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 best of the best at the Scripps National Spelling Bee have begun the unforgiving final day of the competition.

— ben nuckols, The Seattle Times, "Finals of National Spelling Bee begin with 40 elite spellers", 1 June 2017
But the high-risk expedition has sparked heated debate in the mountaineering community about the morality of risking more lives to retrieve bodies from one of the most unforgiving places on Earth.

— Washington Post, "After Everest bodies return, climbers ask if risk acceptable", 30 May 2017
NASCAR fans, much like some race tracks, can be unforgiving.

— george diaz, OrlandoSentinel.com, "NASCAR schedule changes will shake up status quo in 2018", 26 May 2017
Super Hexagon is decidedly unforgiving in a very old-school manner.

— matt morgan, WIRED, "Super Hexagon for iOS Will Leave You Spinning", 11 Sep. 2012

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.