1
as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
a heartless boss who would fire people for missing work, even if they were sick as a dog
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cruel
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others
his heartless whipping of runaway slaves virtually to the point of death shocked even other slave owners
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of heartless
My frustration only furthered my resolve to go full Nancy Drew and find out who committed this heartless crime.
—
Maggie MacIntosh, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2025
One is addled by paranoia and extremism, the other knows only heartless corporate speak.
—Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Michelle is a heartless professional and sees this as a battle between the wits (herself) and the dimwits (her captors).
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
This vile, heartless remark is completely unacceptable—especially from someone entrusted with our children.
—Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heartless
Maggie MacIntosh, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2025
One is addled by paranoia and extremism, the other knows only heartless corporate speak.
—Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Michelle is a heartless professional and sees this as a battle between the wits (herself) and the dimwits (her captors).
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
This vile, heartless remark is completely unacceptable—especially from someone entrusted with our children.
—Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heartless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heartless
Adjective
-
The Bills are ruthless in the red zone, and don’t have much need for either a kicker or punter, but Prater and Mitch Wishnowsky have both had solid seasons.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Our federally dependent market must endure three more years of a ruthless and petty federal administration with a national mandate to cut spending.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The forest had taught him that city dwellers could often be regulated by cruel and rather unpredictable codes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
That Maduro is a cruel dictator is clear; that Trump intends more than just his arrest (such as taking their oil) is equally clear.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Iran’s attorney general has vowed to pursue merciless legal action against the latter, including the death penalty.—
Hira Humayun,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
-
With a merciless 56-22 thumping of Oregon in the Peach Bowl, the Hoosiers punched their ticket to their first national championship game appearance in program history.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Between wading or boating into choppy surf, baking in the hot sun, and getting doused in salty spray, the elements are brutal on the human body and the gear meant to withstand them.—
Francesca Krempa,
Outside,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Phạm Lockwood also spoke with Huan Nguyen, the sole survivor of a massacre of a South Vietnamese family in Saigon, a brutal attack allegedly orchestrated by Capt.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Without prosecutors empowered to bring charges against wrongdoers, judges willing to strike down overreach, legislators daring enough to demand investigations and change laws, and citizens outraged enough to protest, any revelations by journalists will fall on stony ground.—
Susan Chira,
Foreign Affairs,
2 Dec. 2025
-
After that historic journey, NASA charted a new course toward Apophis, a stony metal-rich NEA that offers a sharp scientific contrast to Bennu's carbon-rich composition (and was once thought to pose a serious impact risk to Earth).—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
28 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
These vicious youths fell the infected almost for sport, which undersells the source of terror so essential to the series.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Jan. 2026
-
His charges there include interference with law enforcement, criminal desecration and having a vicious dog at large, according to a news release from KCK police.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Sons of Anarchy was praised for its stellar writing, operatic plotting, and cast of actors who breathed vivid life into their characters, giving even the most savage moments a dose of humanity.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Jan. 2026
-
This league is a savage league.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
22 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Heartless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heartless. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
