1
as in mercifulness
kind, gentle, or compassionate treatment especially towards someone who is undeserving of it
always show your enemies mercy, because it makes you a better person
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in kindness
an act of kind assistance
did a mercy for the stranded motorist and was richly rewarded
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3
as in sympathy
the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune
a woman of such mercy that she's been known to cry over dead rodents
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mercy
For example, when Rhode Islanders complained about how the British ship Gaspee was attacking their ships without mercy in its hunt for smugglers, the Royal Navy waved away the colonial government.
—
Robert Parkinson,
The Conversation,
24 June 2026
Read on for their top picks, including beach-ready flip-flops and dressier styles that won't leave your feet begging for mercy.
—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
22 June 2026
Algeria found itself at the mercy of Lionel Messi who scored a wonderful hat-trick in its first game, although the Argentine forward was somewhat assisted by some terrible defending that will need to get better.
—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
Sodais was left at the mercy of appealing the decision and needed help proving his case.
—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for mercy
Robert Parkinson,
The Conversation,
24 June 2026
Read on for their top picks, including beach-ready flip-flops and dressier styles that won't leave your feet begging for mercy.
—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
22 June 2026
Algeria found itself at the mercy of Lionel Messi who scored a wonderful hat-trick in its first game, although the Argentine forward was somewhat assisted by some terrible defending that will need to get better.
—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
Sodais was left at the mercy of appealing the decision and needed help proving his case.
—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for mercy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mercy
Noun
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It's called cognitive empathy, not to be confused with emotional empathy.
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In a field where founders are taught to move fast and break things, Gen Z is taking a new approach, engineering with empathy.
Noun
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All of us are invited to choose to become better human beings and to show up at work and in the world with increasing love, kindness, courage and forgiveness.
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That instinct to lean into life with curiosity, optimism, and kindness is, perhaps, America's greatest attraction.
Noun
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Jones has an enormous amount of sympathy for his father, who was totally in over his head.
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After Kean’s statement, Representative Ritchie Torres, who has spoken about his own treatment for depression, expressed sympathy but argued that long absences from public office deserve explanation.
Noun
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Upon Paula’s release, Karl picks her up and is his usual confusing shamble of one part compassion and two parts boundaries.
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Will Americans embrace vulnerability with compassion, or perpetuate stigma?
Noun
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Mbappé, a compact, powerful player who moves across the top of the box with flawless grace, attracts the most attention on the World Cup stage.
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Bear detractors may feel that Carmy is getting off too easily in this episode, and that the grace he’s shown is a bit too narratively convenient.
Noun
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Their coupling instantly captured the attention and hearts of fans around the world, and Swift’s presence at Chiefs games was even credited with bolstering female interest in NFL football.
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His update on the C-cut began just below the chin, with extra lift at the roots and inward-curving lengths that narrowed toward the ends to create the illusion of a heart.
Noun
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Part of the proposals would see Ofwat showing greater leniency towards Thames, whose performance has incurred the regulator's wrath on numerous occasions.
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Keanu Reeves came to Rinsch’s defense last month, asking the judge for leniency in the case.
Noun
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In response to what state leaders describe as threats from the federal government, the Minnesota Department of Human Services began the major task of revalidating 5,472 providers across various service programs deemed at high risk for fraud.
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With families and corporate groups back on schedule, historic resorts empty out and service gets noticeably more personal.
Cite this Entry
“Mercy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mercy. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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