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merciful

adjective

Definition of mercifulnext
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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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 merciful That painful night in Dallas now feels merciful, compared with what this Avs team just experienced. — Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 27 May 2026 As the sun began to peek over the hillside, offering a merciful burst of warmth, Alonso Abugattas called this year’s Trillium Trek to order. — Ashley Stimpson, Washington Post, 11 May 2026 Would a just and merciful God approve of what is happening? — Kenneth Seeskin, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026 Would Homelander be merciful and spare just this one? — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for merciful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merciful
  1. patient
  2. benevolent
  3. compassionate
  4. gracious
  5. sympathetic
  6. kind
  7. kindly
  8. gentle
Adjective
  • Taking these lessons and being able to be patient, taking it a hole and a shot at a time.
    — Johnny Resendiz, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The Royals remained patient as Erceg was slotted into low-leverage situations.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of patient
Adjective
  • Behind her benevolent exterior, Lizzie was reportedly known to have a fiery temper.
    — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Socialists are counting on the promise of a society where all needs are met by a benevolent government to convert voters to their ranks.
    — Nolan Finley The Detroit News, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of benevolent
Adjective
  • The program, also known as compassionate use, is a regulatory pathway that helps dying patients get unproven drugs outside of a clinical trial.
    — Gerry Smith, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026
  • While everyone else seemed to be compassionate and understanding, David sometimes was not.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of compassionate
Adjective
  • Many accommodations here have private patios, adding to the feeling of staying in a gracious island home rather than a conventional hotel.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Stay at the gracious Hatchery House Bed-and-Breakfast in Weston.
    — Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 12 Sep. 2026
Definition of gracious
Adjective
  • The three most prominent characters are charismatic and sympathetic in equal measure.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The allegations from Charles Spencer are damaging for King Charles and the royal family, but speaking to people outside Buckingham Palace on Friday morning, CBS News found many who were sympathetic to the monarch.
    — Holly Williams, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of sympathetic
Adjective
  • Pisces February 19 – March 20 When home tugs, work needs kinder structure.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Chiefs tailgaters welcome everyone with open arms One of my first impressions about Kansas Citians is a lot of them are fairly kind people.
    — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of kind
Adjective
  • Graise knows just what to do with a role like Philip, who is seen as kindly and self-sufficient but insecure and treated unjustly by the community.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The film follows Superman’s entire backstory, from his brief time as a newborn on the dying planet Krypton to his discovery on Earth by a kindly couple and upbringing as a not-so-ordinary Kansas farm boy.
    — Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of kindly
Adjective
  • In Paper Tiger, there’s something more reserved and gentle about him.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The plant clips feature high-quality waterproof plastic that’s durable but gentle on fragile stems.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of gentle

Browse Nearby Words

mercies
merciful
mercifully
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Cite this Entry

“Merciful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merciful. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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