as in mercilessness
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Recent Examples of ruthlessness
Wimps don’t survive the ruthlessness of Eastside politics as an outsider to become a congressmember at just 34.
—
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The rapid unraveling of Swalwell’s operation over the past 72 hours underscored both his limited political standing in California and the ruthlessness of party insiders, who eviscerated him on social media.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 13 Apr. 2026
But ruthlessness may not guarantee him reelection.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Such ruthlessness from Russo in scoring her eighth goal in this season’s Champions League — a record in the women’s game for an English player in one European campaign — gave Arsenal a two-goal cushion heading into the second leg a week today (Wednesday).
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The ruthlessness of the producers cutting folk off mid-speech or retracting the microphone and upping the music volume was belittling to those on stage.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026
Now, Iranians are likely to be wary about taking to the streets again because the Revolutionary Guard has demonstrated its ruthlessness, said Kamran Matin, an expert on Iran at the University of Sussex in southern England.
—Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026
This whole thing — Yasmin’s treachery, Harper’s ruthlessness, Ed’s heel turn, Lisa’s demise — is about the idea of an audit.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
Newspaper headlines screamed that Welch had called out McCarthy for his cruelty, his ruthlessness and his lies.
—Kristen Monroe, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The rapid unraveling of Swalwell’s operation over the past 72 hours underscored both his limited political standing in California and the ruthlessness of party insiders, who eviscerated him on social media.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 13 Apr. 2026
But ruthlessness may not guarantee him reelection.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Such ruthlessness from Russo in scoring her eighth goal in this season’s Champions League — a record in the women’s game for an English player in one European campaign — gave Arsenal a two-goal cushion heading into the second leg a week today (Wednesday).
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The ruthlessness of the producers cutting folk off mid-speech or retracting the microphone and upping the music volume was belittling to those on stage.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026
Now, Iranians are likely to be wary about taking to the streets again because the Revolutionary Guard has demonstrated its ruthlessness, said Kamran Matin, an expert on Iran at the University of Sussex in southern England.
—Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026
This whole thing — Yasmin’s treachery, Harper’s ruthlessness, Ed’s heel turn, Lisa’s demise — is about the idea of an audit.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
Newspaper headlines screamed that Welch had called out McCarthy for his cruelty, his ruthlessness and his lies.
—Kristen Monroe, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruthlessness
Noun
-
Initially, the couple was arrested on charges of first-degree manslaughter, first-degree unlawful restraint, intentional cruelty to persons, risk of injury to a minor and conspiracy to commit risk of injury to a minor.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
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There was a particular cruelty in having lived with her hearing for 28 years before losing it.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Adapted for television by Adolescence co-creator, Emmy winner Jack Thorne, in Lord of the Flies, innocence descends into savagery when a group of English schoolboys becomes desert island castaways.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
6 Apr. 2026
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After the war, in sober reflection, the United States helped lead a global effort to try to tame the savagery of conflict and, in particular, to shield civilians.—
Nicholas D. Kristof,
Mercury News,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These young graduates start out naive about the heartlessness of the corporate world and harbor illusory hopes for success in unforgiving professions.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The lives of the two children in the story, aged fourteen and four, are portrayed as being as fleeting as the fireflies, and the story is an unsentimental and unflinching account with moments of both tenderness and heartlessness.—
Ginny Tapley Takemori
September 4,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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An extra-dark comedy that veers toward sadism, the film is saved by the chemistry and star power of Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas (fresh off their Romancing the Stone series), with an assist from an excellent Danny DeVito.—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Over Your Dead Body is not for the faint of heart, but give or take a rape threat that crosses the line into smug sadism without quite seeming to realize it, the violence lands as more comically cartoonish than horrific.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The result is that many people with civil claims are effectively unable to use the court system to help with such complaints as an abusive work environment, racial discrimination, environmental violations, police brutality or other issues handled by the federal courts.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Something natural decay shares with human indifference and brutality—war, waste, and rot, literal and metaphorical.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Consider artificial intelligence phone systems that only add to the frustration and inhumanity of our lives.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
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But the inhumanity this historic trail commemorates stands in stark contrast with the enduring human spirit.—
Keith Sharon,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Emperor’s battle arena, for example, is a marvel of moody set design, its barbarity brought to life by the throngs of people crowding to watch the action from atop its grated roof.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
22 Apr. 2026
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Even when there is little to celebrate in a world marked by barbarity, these events invite us to be together and, briefly, to look, feel, admire, and even disagree within a temporary gathering of images and spaces.—
Raphael Fonseca,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The way the actress moves through space physically gives even the most frenetic sequences an athletic, almost ethereal sense of direction, and Tung’s reserved ferocity doesn’t so much add to the spectacle as justify it.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
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The ferocity of the Lakers’ answer rattled Houston such that the Rockets were hit with two technical fouls on unbridled anger from Jae’Sean Tate and coach Ime Udoka.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruthlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruthlessness. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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