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
Hamer signed up and, through her courage, charisma, and oratory, quickly drew ardent disciples and ruthless adversaries.
—
Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026
Lloyd’s ruthless 2015 World Cup final hat trick became one of the defining moments in modern American sports television.
—Asli Pelit, New York Times, 15 June 2026
To execute its ruthless 66-pound weight loss program, the rear seats have been completely deleted, replaced by a massive structural strut brace that significantly stiffens the chassis.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
The true greats are both ruthless competitors and absolute fools — often at the same time.
—Britina Cheng, Vulture, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ruthless
Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026
Lloyd’s ruthless 2015 World Cup final hat trick became one of the defining moments in modern American sports television.
—Asli Pelit, New York Times, 15 June 2026
To execute its ruthless 66-pound weight loss program, the rear seats have been completely deleted, replaced by a massive structural strut brace that significantly stiffens the chassis.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
The true greats are both ruthless competitors and absolute fools — often at the same time.
—Britina Cheng, Vulture, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ruthless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruthless
Adjective
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Having catalogued the Black Death’s horrifying effects, Ibn Khatima went on to outline a series of preventative measures and active treatments designed to combat this merciless scourge.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
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The jokes on social media will be endless, and opposing fans will be merciless.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 May 2026
Adjective
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Oscar Wilde, for example, reposes beneath a hulking deity whose iconoclastic castration, back in 1961, did little to restrain pilgrims seeking to smear red lips across his stony physique.—
Emily Cox,
ARTnews.com,
22 May 2026
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Instead of looking like a sleek urban loft, the room can quickly start to feel cold, stony, and impersonal.—
Natasha Bazika,
Martha Stewart,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruthless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruthless. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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