as in merciless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
an office supervisor with a ruthless disregard for others' feelings
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Recent Examples of ruthless
This case is an egregious example of the ruthless persistence exhibited by scammers to enrich themselves at the expense of vulnerable people.
—
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026
Moments so ruthless can bury a goalkeeper’s confidence long-term (although Tudor’s error was not so much in replacing Kinsky as picking him in the first place).
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, the team is sent to steal it back on what would be for anyone else a suicide mission.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 9 Mar. 2026
After nearly 30 years lying dormant, the cult series has returned as an online-only extraction shooter with a unique look and the promise of ruthless action on a decaying planet.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ruthless
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026
Moments so ruthless can bury a goalkeeper’s confidence long-term (although Tudor’s error was not so much in replacing Kinsky as picking him in the first place).
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, the team is sent to steal it back on what would be for anyone else a suicide mission.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 9 Mar. 2026
After nearly 30 years lying dormant, the cult series has returned as an online-only extraction shooter with a unique look and the promise of ruthless action on a decaying planet.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ruthless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruthless
Adjective
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And the bracket carnage was swift and merciless.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
20 Mar. 2026
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But the quagmire is made worse by the question of what audiences want in an age of abundant at-home entertainment options, tighter budgets and general fatigue from the merciless grind of modern life.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Except every movie tends to get five buckets, while the rest of their time curdles into Tim sharing too much about his personal life as Gregg stares on, his stony, Buster Keaton-like face saying nothing and everything.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Mar. 2026
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That same stony resistance stymied Henry’s next attempt at commercial success, a parasol with a snap-on cover that could be changed to match a woman’s outfit.—
Shoshi Parks,
Popular Science,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruthless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruthless. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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