MERCIFUL Synonyms: 120 Similar and Opposite Words

merciful

adjective

Definition of merciful

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 Would Homelander be merciful and spare just this one? — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026 Ever since Jimmy Butler tore his ACL in January, the only reprieve from this slog of a campaign has been the promise of a swift, merciful end. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026 Guthrie and her siblings recorded videos, pleading for news, for help, for a merciful change of heart from whoever had absconded with their mom. — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026 Despite his impassive eyes, balding pate, and slit of a smile, Robert Duvall could be volcanic and melancholic, mysterious and straightforward, vengeful and merciful. — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for merciful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for merciful

Adjective

To protect patient privacy, the state public health department does not disclose where in the state the patients reside.

— Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
For example, rural healthcare providers might offer remote patient monitoring to enable continuous management of chronic conditions, potentially reducing hospitalizations and improving outcomes.

— Sas Mukherjee, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of patient

Adjective

Dorothea centers on a Sacramento woman (Davis) who ran a boarding house for the less fortunate in the 1980s, but her seemingly benevolent actions belied her sinister motives.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 7 July 2026
That would be intolerable in any other setting – not because every voter or marcher is admirable, but because constitutional rights are not based on a government employee’s benevolent opinion.

— George A. Mocsary, The Conversation, 7 July 2026

Definition of benevolent

Adjective

In your 12th House of Solitude, compassionate Venus trines vulnerable Chiron in your 8th House of Intimacy and Shared Resources, aligning reflection with deeper trust.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2026
Grossman’s soldiers might not be tidy paragons of bravery, but they’re portrayed with an unwavering, compassionate regard.

— Madeleine Wulfahrt, New Yorker, 8 July 2026

Definition of compassionate

Adjective

The Love Goddess Venus enters your sign, spotlighting self-worth and a gracious presence that helps people feel at ease around you.

— Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2026
Over the years, the Caesars Entertainment team has won over guests with its premier service, glamorous suites, and gracious staff.

— Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026

Definition of gracious

Adjective

If nothing else, Patriot Front offers sympathetic groups intent on violence a valuable pool of potential recruits.

— Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
The Cuban resolution passed with the support of several African and Asian countries, Cuba’s traditional allies like China and Russia as well as other sympathetic governments in Europe (Spain), Latin America (Colombia, Mexico), and the Caribbean.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026

Definition of sympathetic

Adjective

People who knew Salgado Araujo described him as dependable and kind, according to a GoFundMe for his family.

— Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 9 July 2026
The 54,000-square-foot medical spa runs like clockwork and is staffed with efficient, kind, and caring receptionists, medical assistants, and doctors of good humor.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 July 2026

Definition of kind

Adjective

Even the kindly Florida manatee, connoisseur of bayou seagrass, sometimes flies into a carnivorous rage, snapping up fish and gnashing them in its terrible teeth.

— David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026
The show sends Pride & Prejudice‘s resident frump (a charming Ella Bruccoleri) on a journey of self-discovery filled with kindly relatives, enormous books, lavish balls and, yes, eligible suitors.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026

Definition of kindly

Adjective

Offered in collaboration with the UC San Diego Stein Institute for Research on Aging, this six-week class combines breathwork, gentle movement, and mindfulness to support physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

— Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2026
To remove burn marks or sticky residues, Mock recommends applying the cleaner of your choice (can be a baking soda and white vinegar paste, or any gentle cleaner).

— Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 11 July 2026

Definition of gentle

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“Merciful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merciful. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of merciful

adjective

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