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
• hard
• pitiless
• stony
• oppressive
• brutal
• abusive
• callous
• heartless
• remorseless
• harsh
• cruel
• malicious
• hateful
• vicious
• tough
• compassionless
• inhuman
• unmerciful
• soulless
• inhumane
• hard-hearted
• stern
• take-no-prisoners
• unfeeling
• insensitive
• obdurate
• cold-blooded
• unsympathetic
• unsparing
• slash-and-burn
• uncharitable
• thick-skinned
• grim
• insensate
• savage
• severe
• case-hardened
• affectless
• indurate
• hard-boiled
• pachydermatous
• stoney
• desensitized
• mean
• uncaring
• thoughtless
• 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
• rancorous
• ironhanded
• ill-natured
• evil-minded
• knock-down-and-drag-out
• 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

Sweeney stars as Penny Jo, a South Dakota diner waitress with an appealing smile, an ingratiating stammer, a scarf in her hair, and deep reserves of ruthless ambition. —Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025

On MobLand, Brosnan, 72, and Mirren play Conrad and Maeve Harrigan, the husband-and-wife heads of a ruthless London crime family. —Eric Andersson, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025

Prosecutors have disputed those claims and described the killings as ruthless and financially motivated. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2025

Fantasy Premier League is getting ruthless. —Phil Hay, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025

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