1
as in troublesome
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2
as in pitying
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruthful
Adjective
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Trash cans or compost bins positioned near entryways can attract troublesome pests.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 May 2026 -
Nostalgia for this troublesome decade was more common among the men.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
22 May 2026
Adjective
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There’s no place like home on Kurt Vile’s new album, a mellow but poignant consideration of the tension between life as a working musician and a family man.—
Stuart Berman,
Pitchfork,
4 June 2026
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Pyrotechnic spectaculars thrill us with movement, surprise, poignant impermanence — and those qualities distinguish dance, as well.—
Celia Wren,
Washington Post,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Better to have no recall powers than overly lenient ones.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2026
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Republicans argued his approach was too lenient, while Allred emphasized a combination of enforcement and immigration reform.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
26 May 2026
Adjective
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Citations were given for 39 hazardous moving violations and 65 non-moving violations.—
Kendrick Calfee
May 24,
Kansas City Star,
24 May 2026
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The report urges Sacramento to follow San Francisco and Berkeley in restricting non-moving violation enforcement.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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That painful night in Dallas now feels merciful, compared with what this Avs team just experienced.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
27 May 2026
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As the sun began to peek over the hillside, offering a merciful burst of warmth, Alonso Abugattas called this year’s Trillium Trek to order.—
Ashley Stimpson,
Washington Post,
11 May 2026
Adjective
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Morris was closemouthed about her origins, but enumerated her various conditions with a kind of doleful enjoyment.—
Stephen King,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
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The Canadian filmmaker Sophy Romvari does something similar with the new movie Blue Heron, a semi-autobiographical piece whose structure loops in on itself, melding fact and fiction into a doleful portrait of a family tragedy.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Just keep in mind that even the most drought-tolerant plants need regular watering before they’re established.—
Alexandra Kelly,
Martha Stewart,
5 June 2026
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Can persuasive storytelling help Americans be more tolerant and accepting of those with different visions for what America ought to be?—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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The affecting, uncanny sound design baked into Skeletrix’s work does well to uphold the perception that there is, in fact, a complex message to be dissected.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
15 May 2026
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Each emotional beat arrives with soft footsteps, and is all the more affecting for it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Ruthful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruthful. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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