unforgiving

1 of 2

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

unforgivingness

2 of 2

noun

un·​forgivingness

"+

: the quality or state of being unforgiving : implacability, vindictiveness

the unforgivingness of passionate hearts

—John Galsworthy

Examples of unforgiving in a Sentence

Adjective

They are unforgiving of the smallest mistake.

the unforgiving world of politics

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The leadership of the Board of Regents is also cast in an unforgiving light. — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026

Every other Saturday in my childhood involved trips down to Somerset Park on the train to watch part-time soccer players battle the unforgiving wind and rain of the west coast of Scotland. — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026

For the dinosaurs that survived the initial blast, the world became an unforgiving wilderness of starvation and severe climate shifts. — Kevin Brown, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026

But the waves can be unforgiving in December, which is when the crab season opens. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

unforgiving + -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

1713, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unforgiving

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