as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
she is a merciless competitor at board games of any kind
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Recent Examples of merciless
Brookner, like Taylor, is merciless in her examination of a particular sensibility.
—
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2025
In Season 4 of the Max comedy (streaming weekly on Thursdays), Deborah (Jean Smart) is struggling to find her ground amid a merciless feud with head writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder).
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 3 May 2025
The math of those slices off the point totals was merciless: Should a big prep draw a field of less than five, a 50-point second place was reduced to a 25-point place showing, which can mean the difference between getting a stall in the Churchill gate and not getting to race.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Like the rest of Perry’s recent output, the online antics surrounding the Lifetimes Tour have been merciless — with social media making fun of her choreography and sets and accusing her of using AI.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for merciless
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2025
In Season 4 of the Max comedy (streaming weekly on Thursdays), Deborah (Jean Smart) is struggling to find her ground amid a merciless feud with head writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder).
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 3 May 2025
The math of those slices off the point totals was merciless: Should a big prep draw a field of less than five, a 50-point second place was reduced to a 25-point place showing, which can mean the difference between getting a stall in the Churchill gate and not getting to race.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Like the rest of Perry’s recent output, the online antics surrounding the Lifetimes Tour have been merciless — with social media making fun of her choreography and sets and accusing her of using AI.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for merciless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merciless
ruthless
Adjective
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Wes Anderson is talking about a surreal moment that occurs early in his latest film, The Phoenician Scheme, in which the protagonist, the ruthless international tycoon Zsa-Zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro), experiences a vision of the afterlife.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
18 May 2025
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The exception nearly arrives in the closing minutes during a high-stakes scene that had the potential to transform the whole film into a ruthless satire.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Merciless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merciless. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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