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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in kindness
an act of kind assistance
did a mercy for the stranded motorist and was richly rewarded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 mercy
One wonders if Christ, who stormed the temple shouting that the Lord demands mercy, not sacrifice, freeing lambs and goats meant for ritual slaughter, would cheer bruin thrill killing.
—
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2026
Yes, the red carpet that stretches along the Croisette is famed for its archaic dress code, leaving Bella Hadid, Dakota Johnson, et al at the mercy of prescriptivist film nerds for daring to participate in the sheer and sexy.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 28 Dec. 2025
Unfortunately, that still leaves the rest of us at the mercy of our workplace's goodwill.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Dec. 2025
Unfortunately, that still leaves the rest of us at the mercy of our workplace's goodwill.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mercy
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2026
Yes, the red carpet that stretches along the Croisette is famed for its archaic dress code, leaving Bella Hadid, Dakota Johnson, et al at the mercy of prescriptivist film nerds for daring to participate in the sheer and sexy.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 28 Dec. 2025
Unfortunately, that still leaves the rest of us at the mercy of our workplace's goodwill.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Dec. 2025
Unfortunately, that still leaves the rest of us at the mercy of our workplace's goodwill.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mercy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mercy
Noun
-
For months afterward, kindness arrived in unexpected forms — neighbors bringing food, strangers offering furniture, friends calling daily.—
Jonathan Taplin,
Rolling Stone,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Does their lack of kindness grant you permission to respond with equal insensitivity or even cruelty?—
Michael Isaacson,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Aside from coordinating protests, protesters are reliant on internet connections with the outside world to broadcast pictures and videos of the crackdown to elicit international sympathy.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Smith’s face, with the smoke-black eyes and hair of his Cherokee mother, seemed to beg for sympathy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
One of the biggest things is carrying the weight of the empathy, of feeling people’s issues or how people feel.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Featuring families across Ireland, Spain, and America, Tóibín is an author with incredible empathy for the human condition and these stories will be a perfect read for anyone who cares about the short story form.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There is no higher form of musical grace.—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
September 23 – October 22 Libra, grace emerges through honest answers.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For Olivo, those messages were a reminder of the compassion that exists even in moments of sadness.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
This sense of compassion for the kill-hungry infected is new to the series, and while DaCosta and Garland take risks by playing tender moments between Kelson and Samson almost for laughs, the undeniable pathos provides a welcome break from the overriding tension.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Many state Democrats loudly proclaim that any leniency toward Peters would undermine democracy and equal capitulation to a presidential plot to bend blue states to his will.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
-
There is no moral or legal justification for leniency in cases of mass school shootings.—
Tracie Thill,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Flynn, a Wu critic who nominated Worrell, was assigned to chair city services.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The fire in Jackson caused so much damage that the synagogue cannot host worship services for the time being, Beth Israel Congregation President Zach Shemper said Sunday.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Kipling City Pack Backpack Pocket space is at the very heart of this backpack’s design, which has over five different compartments on the interior and exterior.—
Michelle Baricevic,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
-
What the museum dream team did not see was the pain in our hearts about this jail.—
Dorothy Jenkins Fields,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mercy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mercy. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
