as in patient
showing kindness and forgiveness instead of harshness or cruelty especially to someone under one's authority or control
When our English teacher caught us cheating, we prayed he would be merciful in deciding our punishment.
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Recent Examples of merciful
To the relief of everybody, weeks of rumors/subterfuge/smokescreens/innuendo come to a merciful end.
—
Jim Reineking, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
The Nets fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves 117-91 Friday night at Target Center, bringing their 2024-25 road slate to a merciful end.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025
The Church also believes in and supports the efforts of nations to regulate borders and control immigration, provided it is done in a way that is both just and merciful.
—William McCarthy, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2025
The Gospel's beatitudes—blessed are the meek, the merciful, and the peacemakers—stand in stark opposition to the movement's rhetoric of anger and grievance.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for merciful
Jim Reineking, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
The Nets fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves 117-91 Friday night at Target Center, bringing their 2024-25 road slate to a merciful end.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025
The Church also believes in and supports the efforts of nations to regulate borders and control immigration, provided it is done in a way that is both just and merciful.
—William McCarthy, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2025
The Gospel's beatitudes—blessed are the meek, the merciful, and the peacemakers—stand in stark opposition to the movement's rhetoric of anger and grievance.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for merciful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merciful
Adjective
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This might include board compositions that balance quarterly oversight with generational strategy, compensation systems that reward long-term value creation, and communication strategies that educate the different stakeholders about the value of patient capital.—
Esade Business & Law School,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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Federal Medicaid law is riddled with provisions governing how states must operate their Medicaid programs, including requirements governing who must be covered, and rules governing patient safety.—
Ian Millhiser,
Vox,
26 June 2025
Adjective
-
The boys play benevolent Nathan Fielder types helping their friend Karli rehearse an upcoming appearance on the popular social-media show SubwayTakes; the prompts she’s presented with in their VR simulator offer a perfect place to nest jokes.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
26 June 2025
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Murals across Iran feature his seemingly benevolent white-bearded face.—
Steve Inskeep,
NPR,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
Through his characters, Fellowes communicates his approval for a more compassionate and inclusive upper crust.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
20 June 2025
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This, for me, is a viable and compassionate way of supporting your people — those, like Griselda best said, who are the ones consuming your music and buying your concert ticket.—
Sigal Ratner-Arias,
Billboard,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
Iran’s missile strike against a U.S. military base in Qatar was met with near-unanimous rebuke in the Middle East, including from sympathetic powers such as Oman.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
23 June 2025
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Trump and his cabinet members have repeatedly characterized Khalil’s advocacy as antisemitic and as being sympathetic to Hamas, which the U.S. designates as a terrorist organization.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
To their credit, the Heat have been gracious in their credit to the Panthers.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
20 June 2025
-
The food was unfussy and full-flavored, the service gracious, and the staff — from the spa therapists to the bakers — seemed genuinely happy to be here.—
Rooksana Hossenally,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
Much like his character, Boyce is mild-mannered, kind and effortlessly funny.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
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Despite the criticism, Tonn remains grateful for the support the video has brought to the dog's case, and the majority of kind comments.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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The kindly people on the other end had probably not yet been born when I was raped.—
Sarah Beckwith,
New Yorker,
26 May 2025
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Eventually, Billy tries to warn the foster care headquarters, managed by a kindly woman named Wendy (Sally-Anne Upton), that Laura is trying to sabotage Billy.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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The best long-lasting eyeliner for mature skin, then, should have a gentle glide, grip, and staying power without calling attention to fine lines or crepey lids.—
Angela Trakoshis,
Allure,
23 June 2025
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Don't boil for too long: Keep the liquid at a gentle simmer, and cook the ribs just until tenderized.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Merciful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merciful. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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