as in merciless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
an office supervisor with a ruthless disregard for others' feelings
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Recent Examples of ruthless
The initial plan was to use the Indigenous Taino population to work the fields, but this population was quickly decimated by genocidal conquest, ruthless working conditions as well as novel diseases brought by the Europeans.
—
Literary Hub, 29 July 2025
The role of Chris Partlow, Marlo Stanfield's top lieutenant and ruthless hitman, was the first screen credit for Gbenga Akinnagbe.
—Derek Lawrence, EW.com, 29 July 2025
In the film, a pair of mismatched armored truck drivers (Murphy and Davidson) find their routine cash pickup escalating into chaotic mayhem when they’re ambushed by ruthless criminals led by the savvy mastermind (Palmer).
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 28 July 2025
Much of the novel is devoted to the ruthless scheming of Renée’s husband, Saccard, a property speculator intent on profiting from the vast geographical changes afoot in Haussman’s Paris.
—Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruthless
Literary Hub, 29 July 2025
The role of Chris Partlow, Marlo Stanfield's top lieutenant and ruthless hitman, was the first screen credit for Gbenga Akinnagbe.
—Derek Lawrence, EW.com, 29 July 2025
In the film, a pair of mismatched armored truck drivers (Murphy and Davidson) find their routine cash pickup escalating into chaotic mayhem when they’re ambushed by ruthless criminals led by the savvy mastermind (Palmer).
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 28 July 2025
Much of the novel is devoted to the ruthless scheming of Renée’s husband, Saccard, a property speculator intent on profiting from the vast geographical changes afoot in Haussman’s Paris.
—Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruthless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruthless
merciless
Adjective
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Her fateful decision proves to have great consequences, and Jude tracks her subsequent guilt trip with merciless humanity, echoing Rossellini’s Europa ’51.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
5 Aug. 2025
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People often hear the word budget and think of dieting –– punishment, restriction and merciless cost cutting.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruthless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruthless. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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