unforgiving

adjective

un·​for·​giv·​ing ˌən-fər-ˈgi-viŋ 

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

Examples of unforgiving in a Sentence

They are unforgiving of the smallest mistake.

the unforgiving world of politics

Recent Examples on the Web

Set and shot in Lagos, Nigeria, the film follows the eponymous Lady, a fiercely independent young cab driver, who dreams of escaping the unforgiving city for a peaceful existence living on the coast in Freetown, Sierra Leone. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2026

That closeness can be both comforting and unforgiving. —Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026

The thought of going out there alone, playing unforgiving Bach from memory, was too frightening. —John Phipps, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026

Even the world’s top leaders have shared that between messy return-to-office politics, scrambling to keep up with AI, and an unforgiving schedule, work gets too daunting for them, too, sometimes. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 15 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unforgiving

• almsgiving
• caregiving
• forgiving
• misgiving
• nonliving
• reliving
• thanksgiving
• giving
• living
• sieving