ruthless
adjective
ruth·less ˈrüth-ləs 
also ˈru̇th-
: having no pity : merciless, cruel
a ruthless tyrant
ruthlessly adverb
ruthlessness noun
Did you know?
If someone can be ruthless, can one also be ruthful?
Ruthless can be defined as "without ruth" or "having no ruth." So what, then, is ruth? The noun ruth, which is now considerably less common than ruthless, means "compassion for the misery of another," "sorrow for one's own faults," or "remorse." And, just as it is possible for one to be without ruth, it is also possible to be full of ruth. The antonym of ruthless is ruthful, meaning "full of ruth" or "tender." Ruthful can also mean "full of sorrow" or "causing sorrow." Ruth can be traced back to the Middle English noun ruthe, itself from ruen, meaning "to rue" or "to feel regret, remorse, or sorrow."
Synonyms
- affectless
- callous
- case-hardened
- cold-blooded
- compassionless
- desensitized
- hard
- hard-boiled
- hard-hearted
- heartless
- indurate
- inhuman
- inhumane
- insensate
- insensitive
- ironhearted
- merciless
- obdurate
- pachydermatous
- pitiless
- remorseless
- slash-and-burn
- soulless
- stony
- stoney
- stonyhearted
- take-no-prisoners
- thick-skinned
- uncharitable
- unfeeling
- unmerciful
- unsparing
- unsympathetic
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The journalist was ruthless in his criticism. an office supervisor with a ruthless disregard for others' feelings
Recent Examples on the Web Weinman is legendary for writing meticulous and demanding guitar parts and being completely ruthless with his gear. 
Spin Staff, SPIN, 6 Sep. 2022 Others weren’t as ruthless and some seemed genuinely compassionate, particularly relating to the addiction angle. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2022 Debate had taught me to be complicit, encouraging mental habits—repression, toughness, and female coolness—that eased the way for the strongest or most ruthless to prevail without complaint. Tess Mcnulty, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 Men’s ruthless conquest of power, the resourceful machinations of women and the near absence of diplomacy are all set to propel this narrative. Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2022 Daemon is a ruthless warrior and an agent of chaos, whose idea of establishing law and order is to brutally maim (and, in one case, castrate) miscreants. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 22 Aug. 2022 Some considered the decisions ruthless; others saw them as overdue and courageous. Annysa Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2022 At least compared to the ruthless Pandemic Housing Boom. Lance Lambert, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2022 Meidad did this with ruthless beauty, courting Cukurs for months as a property dealer who could make the murderous Latvian rich. Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 19 Aug. 2022 See More
Spin Staff, SPIN, 6 Sep. 2022 Others weren’t as ruthless and some seemed genuinely compassionate, particularly relating to the addiction angle. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2022 Debate had taught me to be complicit, encouraging mental habits—repression, toughness, and female coolness—that eased the way for the strongest or most ruthless to prevail without complaint. Tess Mcnulty, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 Men’s ruthless conquest of power, the resourceful machinations of women and the near absence of diplomacy are all set to propel this narrative. Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2022 Daemon is a ruthless warrior and an agent of chaos, whose idea of establishing law and order is to brutally maim (and, in one case, castrate) miscreants. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 22 Aug. 2022 Some considered the decisions ruthless; others saw them as overdue and courageous. Annysa Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2022 At least compared to the ruthless Pandemic Housing Boom. Lance Lambert, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2022 Meidad did this with ruthless beauty, courting Cukurs for months as a property dealer who could make the murderous Latvian rich. Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 19 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
ruthless
adjective
ruth·less ˈrüth-ləs
: having no pity : cruel
ruthless
adjective
as in merciless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings an office supervisor with a ruthless disregard for others' feelings Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- merciless
- pitiless
- brutal
- hard
- heartless
- oppressive
- remorseless
- abusive
- callous
- cruel
- stony
- vicious
- compassionless
- harsh
- malicious
- hateful
- tough
- inhuman
- unmerciful
- stern
- soulless
- inhumane
- unfeeling
- unsympathetic
- obdurate
- insensitive
- unsparing
- uncharitable
- savage
- grim
- insensate
- hard-hearted
- take-no-prisoners
- severe
- indurate
- affectless
- cold-blooded
- pachydermatous
- desensitized
- slash-and-burn
- thick-skinned
- uncaring
- thoughtless
- mean
- case-hardened
- rough
- spiteful
- hard-boiled
- boorish
- unfriendly
- ironhearted
- malevolent
- unthinking
- inconsiderate
- heedless
- ungentle
- stonyhearted
- unloving
- stoney
- virulent
- brutish
- surly
- cold
- disagreeable
- barbarous
- bestial
- acrimonious
- jackbooted
- hard-bitten
- sledgehammer
- ironfisted
- heavy-handed
- rancorous
- rough-and-tumble
- ill-tempered
- austere
- knock-down-and-drag-out
- ironhanded
- knock-down, drag-out
- evil-minded
- ill-natured
- frosty
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sympathetic
- compassionate
- merciful
- benevolent
- sensitive
- humane
- charitable
- gentle
- kindhearted
- warm
- kind
- warmhearted
- kindly
- lenient
- mild
- softhearted
- friendly
- indulgent
- tender
- benignant
- tenderhearted
- gracious
- loving
- tolerant
- cordial
- affectionate
- good-natured
- understanding
- good-tempered
- fond
- clement