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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Healthcare institutions that embrace integrated care platforms reduce errors, improve outcomes and enhance patient satisfaction.—
Andrew Pecora,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
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This suggests that while there may be patient circumstances where methylene blue is beneficial, researchers have not yet pinned down what those are.—
Lorne J. Hofseth,
The Conversation,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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Elsewhere, organised crime still has its tendrils in many parts of the sport across the globe, and the misty-eyed reverence for benevolent local tycoons is a notion that went extinct before the Tasmanian tiger.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
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Another new motif was the eye, meant to represent here an omniscient but benevolent entity that accompanies and perpetuates knowledge in an unaltered state.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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This can help the development of more conscious leadership and the formation of compassionate teams.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
28 May 2025
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One way to initiate a more intentional approach to developing people-centric leaders is to explore the compassionate leadership toolkit, which includes a free assessment, and consider attending WorkHuman’s next conference for educational and morale purposes.—
Laurel Donnellan,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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As the only one with a sense of humor and a semblance of perspective, Jeff is the most sympathetic of this toxic crew.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
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The Trump administration has framed support for Palestinians — which Khalil’s grandparents were — as antisemitic and sympathetic to Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
29 May 2025
Adjective
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Its three-stateroom design lets owners and guests can enjoy weekend cruising, while the exterior promotes gracious outdoor living in the large beach-club area, or up on the sport bridge.—
Julia Zaltzman,
Robb Report,
28 May 2025
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Ohio State fans were actually gracious in honoring him before the game.—
David Ubben,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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That relationship is built, visit by visit, kind interaction after warm conversation.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
1 June 2025
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Ultimately, however, the union won its contract. 1995: In the largest takeover of its kind, federal housing officials took control of the Chicago Housing Authority four days after its chairman, Vince Lane, and the CHA board resigned under a cloud of mismanagement.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
30 May 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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Bruce Banner / Hulk Though he’s known for quick temper, this gentle green giant, clad in bright purple pants, has dedicated to using his super strength to help Spidey and his friends as a friend, not a foe.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
30 May 2025
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Imagine waking up to the gentle hum of the ocean at your doorstep or enjoying breakfast in a beachfront suite.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Merciful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merciful. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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