as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
she is a merciless competitor at board games of any kind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 merciless
Waltz lends a slimy charisma to the merciless SS colonel, who gets a satisfying comeuppance via carving knife.
—
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
These are two of the most conniving, merciless people on television, and they’re bonded by the twin desire to be more like the other.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
Many games were blowouts, allowing Faulkner to gain experience and develop a merciless attitude.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
Murphy is not acting alone, however, as he’s been assigned to the journey out of a labor camp run by a merciless, tobacco-spitting boss (Russell Crowe) — and some in his merriless band turn out to be savvier, and more malicious, than others.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for merciless
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
These are two of the most conniving, merciless people on television, and they’re bonded by the twin desire to be more like the other.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
Many games were blowouts, allowing Faulkner to gain experience and develop a merciless attitude.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
Murphy is not acting alone, however, as he’s been assigned to the journey out of a labor camp run by a merciless, tobacco-spitting boss (Russell Crowe) — and some in his merriless band turn out to be savvier, and more malicious, than others.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for merciless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merciless
Adjective
-
There’s also just one overwhelming evil force in this play — the Nazis — whereas Dumas had his musketeers fighting not just ruthless government officials but royalty, religious leaders and nobles.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
-
With a lesser interpreter in the role, Eva might have read more reductively as just a ruthless bureaucratic leader.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
With a 15 percent slope and soils consisting of shattered rock and very stony loam with a small percentage of clay, the soil is low in organic matter and drains extremely well.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The sculptor, David Adickes, was an Army veteran who'd wanted his stony visages to gleam.—
Danielle Paquette The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Merciless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merciless. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
