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
But in the shadows, amid growing unease at the bloodthirsty actions of the realm’s merciless Mad King, dissenters from his inner circle anxiously advance a treasonous plot.
—
Ryan Brennan
april 3, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2026
The end was swift and merciless.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
In between, the Ball Arena patrons were merciless in their jeering of the officials.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026
The group is preyed upon by not only the harsh terrain, beset by hunger and desperation, but are also stalked by something older and far more merciless than the desert itself.
—Thinus Ferreira, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for merciless
Ryan Brennan
april 3, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2026
The end was swift and merciless.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
In between, the Ball Arena patrons were merciless in their jeering of the officials.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026
The group is preyed upon by not only the harsh terrain, beset by hunger and desperation, but are also stalked by something older and far more merciless than the desert itself.
—Thinus Ferreira, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for merciless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merciless
Adjective
-
When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, the team is sent to steal it back on what would be for anyone else a suicide mission.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
-
Assayas offers anecdotes, a feuilleton of tyranny in which the foibles of the mighty and the ruthless reveal the sentimental side of cruelty, the amusement value of ugly deeds, and the polite side of monstrous ideas.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
These conditions often yield mezcals with a savory backbone and a dry, stony finish.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In a vast stony tract of desert a three-hour drive south of Cairo, tucked between jagged black mountains and the glittering Gulf of Suez, a group of Chinese engineers is quietly rewiring Egypt’s energy strategy.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Merciless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merciless. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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