ruthful

adjective

Definition of ruthfulnext
1
as in troublesome

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words
2
as in pitying

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruthful
  1. troublesome
  2. lenient
  3. poignant
  4. merciful
  5. moving
  6. tolerant
  7. doleful
  8. congenial
Adjective
  • Given their performances and results — a vivid draw at home to Liverpool and an excellent victory away to Tottenham — this felt more like a quirk than a troublesome theme.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Now a second Times report notes that concern over the choice of honoree has only become more troublesome since that first article was published a month ago.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of troublesome
Adjective
  • Considered too lenient toward the Germans, Marie-Adelaide abdicated in January 1919 in favor of her sister, Charlotte.
    — Giorgia Olivieri, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The allegations against Tran have led to other murder convictions being overturned, dismissals and relatively lenient plea deals in other cases.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of lenient
Adjective
  • This poignant and beautifully acted boxing film starring the great but underrated actor Stacy Keach is among the true classics of the 20th century.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Some might argue that the film’s niceness, its poignant vibe of celebration and gratitude, is a tellingly apt fit for the band’s music, which was sometimes as mocked for its Top 40-friendly, Britpop neatness as it was beloved by others.
    — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of poignant
Adjective
  • God did not punish him intensely, but only from time to time and in a merciful way.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The cold streak for the MLB best home run bets came to a merciful end on Saturday.
    — Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of merciful
Adjective
  • But in May, the Los Angeles City Council passed a measure urging the Police Commission, the LAPD’s policy-making body, to further limit arbitrary pull-overs for non-moving traffic violations.
    — Hailey Wang, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Thomas Edison received a patent for his Kinetograph moving-picture camera.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of moving
Adjective
  • Referees are asked to be more tolerant when players are desperately trying to score or defend their goal.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Will this majority be more tolerant or understanding and inclusive because these are their values?
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of tolerant
Adjective
  • Langley’s voice, which is emotive but steady, seems unusually well suited to this sort of doleful yearning.
    — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Measles is the canary in the coal mine for vaccination and public health, and at this moment, the canary is singing a doleful tune.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Definition of doleful
Adjective
  • And while people are pressed close together, the mood of the train is largely congenial.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Meaning, connecting deeply with the audience to the point of a congenial fracture of time and space.
    — Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 1 July 2026
Definition of congenial
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.

Browse Nearby Words

ruth
ruthful
ruthless
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ruthful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruthful. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of loath

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All