ruthlesslyadv.

1581 A. Hall tr. Homer 10 Bks. Iliades vi. 110 Againe, Diane as ruthlesly doth slay Laodomie.

1590 C. Marlowe Tamburlaine: 1st Pt. sig. E7^v And let not conquest ruthlessly pursewde Be equally against his life incens't.

?1609 J. Healey tr. Bp. J. Hall Discouery New World 33 I pray yee (that censure mee so ruthlesly) which of you all is there, but one time or other in the forenoone of your daies, hath had his vagaries in the world.

1637 T. Heywood tr. J. R. Textor in Pleasant Dialogues 46 That Man she ruthlesly deuoures, And makes him perish at vncertaine houres.

1744 Gentleman's Mag. Jan. 8/1 Every Man who could afford to purchase two gallons was at Liberty to riot at his Ease, and..look down with Contempt upon his former Companions, now ruthlessly condemned to disconsolate Sobriety.

1785 A. M. Bennett Anna I. x. 80 The cruel spoiler came, who ruthlessly taking advantage of the confidence reposed in him by the fond husband, and the unsuspicious innocent wife, soon contrived to inspire her with those sentiments which banished honour and gratitude.

1809 W. Irving Hist. N.Y. II. vii. vii. 227 It came ruthlessly home to those sweet affections that grow close around the heart.

1849 J. H. Parker Introd. Study Gothic Archit. i. 8 These buildings..were ruthlessly destroyed by the barbarians who succeeded them.

1879 J. A. Froude Cæsar xvi. 261 In this case the limits had been ruthlessly exceeded.

1927 A. Huxley Proper Stud. 29 Power-holders to whose material advantage it would have been to wield their power ruthlessly.

1961 N. Roy Black Albino 117 He laughed gaily as he saw and described the antics of a couple of pitcharies ruthlessly attacking a baldheaded vulture perched on the dead branch of a cottonwood tree.

1995 Bk. & Mag. Collector Feb. 36/1 Unless ruthlessly edited and condensed, the novel..is surely unsuitable for children.

2007 Daily Tel. 30 Jan. 9/1 Other ‘financial abusers’ include friends or paid carers coming into the home on behalf of local authorities, known as ‘Granny Groomers’ because they ruthlessly target older people for their profit.