Synonyms of ruthless

ruthless

adjective

ˈrüth-ləs 

as in merciless

having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings

an office supervisor with a ruthless disregard for others' feelings

Synonyms & Similar Words

• merciless
• stony
• hard
• pitiless
• brutal
• abusive
• oppressive
• callous
• heartless
• remorseless
• harsh
• cruel
• stern
• malicious
• vicious
• hateful
• tough
• compassionless
• inhuman
• unmerciful
• soulless
• inhumane
• hard-hearted
• take-no-prisoners
• unfeeling
• insensitive
• obdurate
• grim
• cold-blooded
• unsympathetic
• unsparing
• slash-and-burn
• uncharitable
• thick-skinned
• insensate
• affectless
• indurate
• savage
• severe
• hard-boiled
• pachydermatous
• desensitized
• case-hardened
• uncaring
• thoughtless
• mean
• ironhearted
• rough
• boorish
• unthinking
• unfriendly
• inconsiderate
• stonyhearted
• heedless
• spiteful
• malevolent
• ungentle
• unloving
• rough-and-tumble
• heavy-handed
• virulent
• ironfisted
• disagreeable
• brutish
• surly
• cold
• barbarous
• ill-tempered
• acrimonious
• jackbooted
• bestial
• hard-bitten
• sledgehammer
• ironhanded
• rancorous
• ill-natured
• evil-minded
• austere
• knock-down, drag-out
• frosty

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sympathetic
• sensitive
• warm
• compassionate
• charitable
• humane
• merciful
• benevolent
• gentle
• kind
• kindly
• mild
• tender
• lenient
• friendly
• kindhearted
• softhearted
• indulgent
• gracious
• warmhearted
• tenderhearted
• cordial
• benignant
• loving
• tolerant
• affectionate
• good-natured
• understanding
• fond
• clement
• good-tempered

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ruthless

Future Housewives is set in the decadent asteroid colony of New Beverly Hills, where wealthy socialites juggle bioengineered beauty regimens, ruthless rivalries and interplanetary scandals. — Peter White, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026

Staring down an assembly of the outraged, Digger spells out the ruthless logic of global capitalism and claims the world’s fuel dependency as the ultimate vindication. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026

Audiences will no doubt see broad echoes of what could have been in Ali’s passionate and often ruthless Latif. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026

When his inquiry leads directly to a ruthless corporate chairman played by Tony Leung Ka-fai, the two seasoned operators become locked in a battle of wits. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026