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

Actually seeing these lives takes patience and some concentration; in the unforgiving world of the film, many choose not to. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026

The all-consuming and unforgiving nature of motherhood today results in a sad irony. — Marianne Cooper, Time, 5 Aug. 2026

Facing the unforgiving launch deadline forced by DESTINY+’s mission profile, the Ramses mission’s scientists began working on it before actually securing full funding from ESA, said Paolo Martino, the mission’s project manager, at the June workshop. — Andrew Jones, Scientific American, 30 July 2026

The animal kingdom is brutal—and thanks to modern technology, us humans often have a front-row seat to its unforgiving nature. — Annie Colbert, Popular Science, 29 July 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