Synonyms of take-no-prisoners

take-no-prisoners

adjective

ˈtāk-ˈnō-ˈpriz-(ə-)nərz 

as in ruthless

having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings

a theater critic with a take-no-prisoners approach to reviewing Broadway's latest offerings

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ruthless
• merciless
• stony
• hard
• brutal
• pitiless
• stern
• tough
• abusive
• slash-and-burn
• oppressive
• harsh
• vicious
• compassionless
• unmerciful
• remorseless
• unsparing
• heartless
• malicious
• hateful
• callous
• thick-skinned
• hard-boiled
• obdurate
• cold-blooded
• grim
• soulless
• cruel
• pachydermatous
• affectless
• inhuman
• unsympathetic
• inhumane
• hard-hearted
• insensitive
• unfeeling
• uncharitable
• case-hardened
• savage
• insensate
• indurate
• severe
• rough-and-tumble
• desensitized
• boorish
• ironhearted
• rough
• heedless
• stonyhearted
• virulent
• thoughtless
• mean
• uncaring
• unfriendly
• unthinking
• spiteful
• malevolent
• hard-bitten
• ungentle
• acrimonious
• heavy-handed
• sledgehammer
• ironfisted
• brutish
• inconsiderate
• unloving
• disagreeable
• jackbooted
• rancorous
• surly
• ironhanded
• bestial
• cold
• ill-tempered
• barbarous
• knock-down, drag-out
• ill-natured
• austere
• frosty
• evil-minded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of take-no-prisoners

His take-no-prisoners approach played well. — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 12 May 2026

Chicago is known for its hard-nosed politics and take-no-prisoners attitude. — Glenn Davis, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026

Her take-no-prisoners portrayal of Lois quickly became a defining career highlight. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026

But some specialists in legal ethics expressed doubts at the time that the additional pledge would affect courtroom behavior — the late Stanford Law professor Deborah Rhode said some lawyers simply conclude that a take-no-prisoners attitude would help their client. — Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, 16 Mar. 2026