If you say that someone is ruthless, you mean that you disapprove of them because they are very harsh or cruel, and will do anything that is necessary to achieve what they want.
[disapproval]
The President was ruthless in dealing with any hint of internal political dissent. [+ in]
...an invasion by a ruthless totalitarian power.
The late newspaper tycoon is condemned for his ruthless treatment of employees.
ruthlesslyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
The Party has ruthlessly crushed any sign of organised opposition.
ruthlessnessuncountable noun
...a powerful political figure with a reputation for ruthlessness.
2. adjective
A ruthless action or activity is done forcefully and thoroughly, without much concern for its effects on other people.
Her lawyers have been ruthless in thrashing out a settlement. [+ in]
Successfully merging two banks requires a fast and ruthless attack on costs.
ruthlesslyadverb
...a ruthlessly efficient woman.
ruthlessnessuncountable noun
...a woman with a brain and business acumen and a certain healthy ruthlessness.
More Synonyms of ruthless
ruthless in British English
(ˈruːθlɪs)
adjective
feeling or showing no mercy; hardhearted
Derived forms
ruthlessly (ˈruthlessly)
adverb
ruthlessness (ˈruthlessness)
noun
ruthless in American English
(ˈruˈθlɪs)
adjective
without ruth; pitiless
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈcruel
Derived forms
ruthlessly (ˈruthlessly)
adverb
ruthlessness (ˈruthlessness)
noun
Word origin
ME reutheles
Examples of 'ruthless' in a sentence
ruthless
Some people made a lot of money smuggling refugees, and they were pretty ruthless with anyone they regarded as competition.
Dobbs, Michael WALL GAMES (2002)
He was angry at what the man had forced him into but he felt ruthless, too.
Robert Wilson THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS (2002)
He held her steady, urging her on, his lips ruthless, just this side of hard.
Stephanie Laurens WHOLE SECRET LOVE (2002)
In other languages
ruthless
British English: ruthless /ˈruːθlɪs/ ADJECTIVE
Someone who is ruthless is very harsh or determined, and will do anything that is necessary to achieve their aim.
...his ruthless treatment of employees.
American English: ruthless
Arabic: قاسٍ
Brazilian Portuguese: implacável
Chinese: 无情的
Croatian: bezobziran
Czech: nemilosrdný
Danish: skånselsløs
Dutch: meedogenloos
European Spanish: despiadado
Finnish: armoton
French: sans pitié
German: rücksichtslos
Greek: αδίστακτος
Italian: spietato
Japanese: 無慈悲な
Korean: 잔인한
Norwegian: hensynsløs
Polish: bezlitosny
European Portuguese: implacável
Romanian: nemilos
Russian: безжалостный
Latin American Spanish: despiadado
Swedish: hänsynslös
Thai: ไร้ความเมตตาปราณี
Turkish: acımasız
Ukrainian: безжалісний
Vietnamese: nhẫn tâm
Chinese translation of 'ruthless'
ruthless
(ˈruːθlɪs)
adj
[person]冷酷的 (lěngkù de)
[determination, efficiency]坚(堅)决(決)的 (jiānjué de)
(adjective)
Definition
thorough and forceful, regardless of effect
a ruthless totalitarian power
Synonyms
merciless
the merciless efficiency of a modern police state
hard
His father was a hard man.
severe
This was a dreadful crime and a severe sentence is necessary.
fierce
the teeth of some fierce animal
harsh
He said many harsh and unkind things.
cruel
They should spend a long time in jail to reflect on their cruel acts.
the persecution of prisoners by cruel captors
savage
This was a savage and needless attack.
brutal
He was the victim of a very brutal attack.
stern
He said stern measures would be taken against the criminals.
relentless
He was the most relentless enemy I have ever known.
adamant
ferocious
Fighting has been ferocious.
callous
a callous and brutal attack on an old man
heartless
I couldn't believe they were so heartless.
unrelenting
in the face of severe opposition and unrelenting criticism
inhuman
The barbaric slaughter of whales is unnecessary and inhuman.
inexorable
the seemingly inexorable rise in unemployment
remorseless
the capacity for quick, remorseless violence
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
hard-hearted
You would have to be pretty hard-hearted not to feel something.
without pity
unmerciful
The two men were set upon in an unmerciful and relentless attack.
unpitying
Opposites
kind
,
sparing
,
gentle
,
forgiving
,
pitying
,
humane
,
compassionate
,
lenient
,
merciful
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 brutal
Definition
cruel
He was the victim of a very brutal attack.
Synonyms
cruel,
harsh,
savage,
grim,
vicious,
ruthless,
ferocious,
callous,
sadistic,
heartless,
atrocious,
inhuman,
merciless,
cold-blooded,
inhumane,
brutish,
bloodthirsty,
remorseless,
barbarous,
pitiless,
uncivilized,
hard-hearted
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)
Synonyms of 'ruthless'
ruthless
Explore 'ruthless' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cruel
Definition
deliberately causing pain without pity
They should spend a long time in jail to reflect on their cruel acts.the persecution of prisoners by cruel captors
Synonyms
brutal,
ruthless,
callous,
sadistic,
inhumane,
hard,
fell (archaic),
severe,
harsh,
savage,
grim,
vicious,
relentless,
murderous,
monstrous,
unnatural,
unkind,
heartless,
atrocious,
inhuman,
merciless,
cold-blooded,
malevolent,
hellish (informal),
depraved,
spiteful,
brutish,
bloodthirsty,
remorseless,
barbarous,
pitiless,
unfeeling,
sanguinary,
hard-hearted,
stony-hearted,
implacable
in the sense of ferocious
Definition
savagely fierce or cruel
Fighting has been ferocious.
Synonyms
cruel,
bitter,
brutal,
vicious,
ruthless,
relentless,
barbaric,
merciless,
brutish,
bloodthirsty,
barbarous,
pitiless,
tigerish
in the sense of fierce
Definition
very aggressive or angry
the teeth of some fierce animal
Synonyms
ferocious,
wild,
dangerous,
cruel,
savage,
brutal,
aggressive,
menacing,
vicious,
fiery,
murderous,
uncontrollable,
feral,
untamed,
barbarous,
fell (archaic),
threatening,
baleful,
truculent,
tigerish,
aggers (Australian, slang),
biffo (Australian, slang)
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 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 inhuman
Definition
cruel or brutal
The barbaric slaughter of whales is unnecessary and inhuman.
Synonyms
cruel,
savage,
brutal,
vicious,
ruthless,
barbaric,
heartless,
merciless,
diabolical,
cold-blooded,
remorseless,
barbarous,
fiendish,
pitiless,
unfeeling,
bestial
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
Additional synonyms
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 remorseless
Definition
constantly unkind and lacking pity
the capacity for quick, remorseless violence
Synonyms
pitiless,
hard,
harsh,
cruel,
savage,
ruthless,
callous,
merciless,
unforgiving,
implacable,
inhumane,
unmerciful,
hardhearted,
uncompassionate
in the sense of savage
Definition
rude, crude, and violent
This was a savage and needless attack.
Synonyms
cruel,
brutal,
vicious,
bloody,
fierce,
harsh,
beastly (informal),
ruthless,
ferocious,
murderous,
ravening,
sadistic,
inhuman,
merciless,
diabolical,
brutish,
devilish,
bloodthirsty,
barbarous,
pitiless,
bestial
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 stern
Definition
difficult and often unpleasant
He said stern measures would be taken against the criminals.
Synonyms
strict,
harsh,
rigorous,
hard,
cruel,
grim,
rigid,
relentless,
drastic,
authoritarian,
austere,
inflexible,
unrelenting,
unyielding,
unsparing
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.
Synonyms
merciless,
brutal,
ruthless,
relentless,
hard,
cruel,
heartless,
implacable,
uncaring,
inhumane,
remorseless,
pitiless,
unfeeling,
unsparing
in the sense of unrelenting
Definition
refusing to relent or take pity
in the face of severe opposition and unrelenting criticism