If you describe someone as merciless, you mean that they are very cruel or determined and do not show any concern for the effect their actions have on other people.
Whistler, as always, was merciless.
...the merciless efficiency of a modern police state.
Synonyms: cruel, ruthless, hard, severe More Synonyms of merciless
mercilesslyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb, oft ADVERB adjective]
We teased him mercilessly.
The sun beat down mercilessly.
merciless in British English
(ˈmɜːsɪlɪs)
adjective
without mercy; pitiless, cruel, or heartless
Derived forms
mercilessly (ˈmercilessly)
adverb
mercilessness (ˈmercilessness)
noun
merciless in American English
(ˈmɜrsəlɪs)
adjective
without mercy; having, feeling, or showing no mercy; pitiless; cruel; implacable
Derived forms
mercilessly (ˈmercilessly)
adverb
mercilessness (ˈmercilessness)
noun
Examples of 'merciless' in a sentence
merciless
The aiming system is merciless in its accuracy and demands enormous patience as you try just one more time.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Many households will be watching this series in horrified fascination as they see their well-meaning parenting lampooned with such merciless accuracy.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Many households must be watching this series in horrified fascination as they see their well-meaning attempts at parenting lampooned with such merciless accuracy.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They dumped their BMX bikes and scrambled over a fence to launch the merciless attack.
The Sun (2009)
And the effort expended under the Mara's merciless sun pays fabulous dividends.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The former striker's features contain hard, merciless eyes.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
merciless
British English: merciless ADJECTIVE
If you describe someone as merciless, you mean that they are very cruel or determined and do not show any concern for the effect their actions have on other people.
...the merciless efficiency of a modern police state.
American English: merciless
Brazilian Portuguese: inclemente
Chinese: 冷酷无情的
European Spanish: despiadado
French: impitoyable
German: erbarmungslos
Italian: spietato
Japanese: 情け容赦のない
Korean: 무자비한
European Portuguese: inclemente
Latin American Spanish: despiadado
Chinese translation of 'merciless'
merciless
(ˈməːsɪlɪs)
adj
冷酷无(無)情的 (lěngkù wúqíng de)
(adjective)
Definition
without mercy
the merciless efficiency of a modern police state
Synonyms
cruel
They should spend a long time in jail to reflect on their cruel acts.
the persecution of prisoners by cruel captors
ruthless
a ruthless totalitarian power
hard
His father was a hard man.
severe
This was a dreadful crime and a severe sentence is necessary.
harsh
He said many harsh and unkind things.
relentless
He was the most relentless enemy I have ever known.
callous
a callous and brutal attack on an old man
heartless
I couldn't believe they were so heartless.
unforgiving
fell (archaic)
inexorable
the seemingly inexorable rise in unemployment
implacable
the threat of invasion by a ruthless and implacable enemy
unsympathetic
an unsympathetic doctor
inhumane
He was kept in inhumane conditions.
barbarous
It was a barbarous attack on a purely civilian train.
pitiless
He saw the pitiless eyes of his enemy.
unfeeling
an unfeeling bully who used his huge size to frighten people
unsparing
He is unsparing in his criticism.
hard-hearted
You would have to be pretty hard-hearted not to feel something.
unmerciful
The two men were set upon in an unmerciful and relentless attack.
unappeasable
unpitying
Additional synonyms
in the sense of barbarous
Definition
brutal or cruel
It was a barbarous attack on a purely civilian train.
Synonyms
brutal,
cruel,
savage,
vicious,
ruthless,
ferocious,
monstrous,
barbaric,
heartless,
inhuman,
merciless,
remorseless,
pitiless
in the sense of callous
Definition
showing no concern for other people's feelings
a callous and brutal attack on an old man
Synonyms
heartless,
cold,
harsh,
hardened,
indifferent,
insensitive,
hard-boiled (informal),
unsympathetic,
uncaring,
soulless,
hard-bitten,
unfeeling,
obdurate,
case-hardened,
affectless,
hardhearted,
indurated (rare)
in the sense of fell
Synonyms
cruel,
bloody,
fierce,
savage,
grim,
vicious,
ruthless,
relentless,
ferocious,
murderous,
malicious,
malignant,
inhuman,
merciless,
implacable,
barbarous,
pitiless,
sanguinary (formal)
Synonyms of 'merciless'
merciless
Explore 'merciless' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of hard
Definition
unkind or unfeeling
His father was a hard man.
Synonyms
harsh,
severe,
strict,
cold,
exacting,
cruel,
grim,
stern,
ruthless,
stubborn,
unjust,
callous,
unkind,
unrelenting,
implacable,
unsympathetic,
pitiless,
unfeeling,
obdurate,
unsparing,
affectless,
hardhearted
in the sense of hard-hearted
Definition
unsympathetic and uncaring
You would have to be pretty hard-hearted not to feel something.
Synonyms
unsympathetic,
hard,
cold,
cruel,
indifferent,
insensitive,
callous,
stony,
unkind,
heartless,
inhuman,
merciless,
intolerant,
uncaring,
pitiless,
unfeeling,
unforgiving,
hard as nails,
affectless
in the sense of harsh
Definition
unkind and showing no understanding
He said many harsh and unkind things.
Synonyms
hard,
sharp,
severe,
bitter,
cruel,
stern,
unpleasant,
abusive,
unkind,
pitiless,
unfeeling
in the sense of heartless
Definition
unkind or cruel
I couldn't believe they were so heartless.
Synonyms
cruel,
hard,
callous,
cold,
harsh,
brutal,
unkind,
inhuman,
merciless,
cold-blooded,
uncaring,
pitiless,
unfeeling,
cold-hearted,
affectless,
hardhearted
in the sense of implacable
Definition
unyielding
the threat of invasion by a ruthless and implacable enemy
Synonyms
ruthless,
cruel,
relentless,
uncompromising,
intractable,
inflexible,
unrelenting,
merciless,
unforgiving,
inexorable,
unyielding,
remorseless,
pitiless,
unbending,
unappeasable
in the sense of inexorable
Definition
unable to be prevented from continuing or progressing
the seemingly inexorable rise in unemployment
Synonyms
unrelenting,
relentless,
implacable,
hard,
severe,
harsh,
cruel,
adamant,
inescapable,
inflexible,
merciless,
unyielding,
immovable,
remorseless,
pitiless,
unbending,
obdurate,
ineluctable,
unappeasable
in the sense of inhumane
Definition
extremely cruel or brutal
He was kept in inhumane conditions.
Synonyms
cruel,
savage,
brutal,
severe,
harsh,
grim,
unkind,
heartless,
atrocious,
unsympathetic,
hellish (informal),
depraved,
barbarous,
pitiless,
unfeeling,
uncompassionate
in the sense of pitiless
Definition
feeling no pity or mercy
He saw the pitiless eyes of his enemy.
Synonyms
merciless,
ruthless,
heartless,
harsh,
cruel,
brutal,
relentless,
callous,
inhuman,
inexorable,
implacable,
unsympathetic,
cold-blooded,
uncaring,
unfeeling,
cold-hearted,
unmerciful,
hardhearted
in the sense of relentless
Definition
(of a person) determined and pitiless
He was the most relentless enemy I have ever known.
Synonyms
merciless,
hard,
fierce,
harsh,
cruel,
grim,
ruthless,
uncompromising,
unstoppable,
inflexible,
unrelenting,
unforgiving,
inexorable,
implacable,
unyielding,
remorseless,
pitiless,
undeviating
in the sense of ruthless
Definition
thorough and forceful, regardless of effect
a ruthless totalitarian power
Synonyms
merciless,
hard,
severe,
fierce,
harsh,
cruel,
savage,
brutal,
stern,
relentless,
adamant,
ferocious,
callous,
heartless,
unrelenting,
inhuman,
inexorable,
remorseless,
barbarous,
pitiless,
unfeeling,
hard-hearted,
without pity,
unmerciful,
unpitying
Additional synonyms
in the sense of severe
Definition
strict or harsh in the treatment of others
This was a dreadful crime and a severe sentence is necessary.
Synonyms
strict,
hard,
harsh,
cruel,
rigid,
relentless,
drastic,
oppressive,
austere,
Draconian,
unrelenting,
inexorable,
pitiless,
unbending,
iron-handed
in the sense of unfeeling
Definition
without sympathy
an unfeeling bully who used his huge size to frighten people
Synonyms
callous,
insensitive,
heartless,
cold,
cruel,
hardened,
stony,
inhuman,
unsympathetic,
uncaring,
apathetic,
pitiless,
hardhearted
in the sense of unmerciful
The two men were set upon in an unmerciful and relentless attack.