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

As viewers remember, Voit was initially a ruthless serial killer who was captured in season 17. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 24 July 2026

Models are ruthless in their pursuit of a goal, sometimes taking disastrous shortcuts. — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 22 July 2026

Ticketing was a ruthless game of revenue maximization, and the final became a stage for Madonna and Justin Bieber. — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 21 July 2026

President Gianni Infantino has been the driving force behind FIFA's ruthless commercialization drive. — Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 20 July 2026

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